Washington, DC – Representative Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, today introduced legislation that would impose sanctions on any person or entity endangering the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine. Over the last week, Russia began forced evacuations of parts of Zaporizhzhia, including staff of the nuclear power plant. This exacerbates already critical staff shortages at the nuclear power plant, which requires specialized staff to manage its cooling and safety systems. 

Original cosponsors include Representatives Marcy Kaptur, Frank Pallone, Steve Cohen, Gerald Connolly, William Keating, Susan Wild, Colin Allred, Brendan Boyle, and Ruben Gallego 

“By evacuating from Zaporizhzhia and leaving its nuclear power plant dangerously understaffed, Russia’s brutal and illegal invasion of Ukraine is now threatening nuclear catastrophe across the region. This bill would place sanctions on Russia’s nuclear agency, Rosatom, which has financially supported the war in Ukraine, as well as any who’ve undermined the nuclear facility’s safety. 

“As the war evolves, so must our support for Ukraine in its fight for freedom. That includes efforts to punish those enabling Russian aggression in Ukraine, while also ensuring that the safety and stability of potentially hazardous nuclear power facilities in Ukraine aren’t compromised by this war.”