MANIPULATION: Ukraine uses UN workers as hostages to protect energy infrastructure — NYT

Information is being spread online claiming that Ukraine is using UN mission workers as hostages to protect energy infrastructure. This claim is allegedly based on The New York Times (NYT), which refers to a letter from Ukraine’s parliamentary energy committee to the UN. The letter reportedly called on the UN to deploy permanent monitoring groups at critical substations to prevent provocations by Russia.

However, this is a manipulation. The NYT did write that Ukraine requested permanent monitoring groups at substations but did not describe it as using UN workers as hostages.

The New York Times published an article titled “How Will Ukraine Keep the Lights On This Winter?” that is referenced in the posts. The article mentions that Ukraine’s parliamentary energy committee requested the UN deploy permanent monitoring groups at critical substations essential for nuclear power plants to prevent provocations by Russia. Jan Vande Putte, a nuclear specialist at Greenpeace, acknowledged that Russia might not want to endanger agency staff, as it depends on exporting nuclear technology, which requires IAEA approval.

At the same time, the Verkhovna Rada did not comment on whether it officially made this request to the UN. The NYT did not write that Ukraine plans to use UN workers as hostages to protect its energy infrastructure.

Monitoring of nuclear facilities in conflict zones is part of the mandate of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), a UN system organization. The IAEA’s statute indicates that one of its objectives is to assure member states that peaceful nuclear facilities and materials are not used for military purposes. Therefore, Ukraine can request UN personnel to monitor nuclear power plants and other critical infrastructure, which is not equivalent to using UN staff as hostages. The NYT did not condemn Ukraine’s request.

Moreover, the IAEA is already conducting monitoring missions at substations vital for the operation of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants, though these are currently periodic visits. During these visits, the IAEA documents damage to substations from Russian shelling, assesses restoration efforts, and participates in planning further recovery and modernization of substations. Since January 2023, IAEA permanent monitoring groups have been operating at the Chornobyl, Rivne, Southukrainian, and Khmelnytskyi nuclear power plants. A permanent monitoring group has been in place at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia NPP since September 2022.

Previously, we debunked claims that the IAEA Director General accused Ukraine of shelling a vehicle carrying the agency’s experts.