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Strengthening Guardrails Against Attacks on Nuclear Facilities

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Abstract

Military events at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine have forced the world to confront an unprecedented element of nuclear risk in conventional war fighting. Although this is the first time kinetic military hostilities have threatened the security of an active nuclear power plant, it is unlikely to be the last. At a time when countries in the Middle East are pursuing nuclear power, the international community must urgently build strong norms against military activities that threaten nuclear power plants. This article analyzes existing instruments designed to reduce the risk of attacks on nuclear facilities as well as political practices to that end. It offers recommendations to further strengthen these norms.

Keywords: nuclear facilities, nuclear security, international humanitarian law, multilateral treaties

How to Cite:

Christ, A., (2025) “Strengthening Guardrails Against Attacks on Nuclear Facilities”, International Journal of Nuclear Security 9(3). doi: https://doi.org/10.7290/ijns09372575