Information Sharing Initiative: CBRN Safety Challenges

From May 13 to 17, 2024, a meeting of the Information Sharing Initiative was held in Prague, Czech Republic, to assist Ukraine in addressing the most pressing needs in the field of nuclear and radiation safety and physical protection. In particular, it was emphasized that Ukraine is currently working on three fronts: military, energy safety, and countering disinformation.

The Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority initiated such meetings in 2016 to establish cooperation between donor countries and the Ukrainian party.

This year, however, the scope of the meeting was expanded to meet Ukraine’s needs in the field of chemical, biological, radiation and nuclear (CBRN) safety. This was in response to russia’s illegal use of chemical munitions on the battlefield, in particular the chlorine gas agent chloropicrin, against the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and the increase in both the frequency of russian chemical attacks against Ukraine and the variety of chemical munitions used by russian forces on the battlefield.

Nuclear and radiation safety was represented by five sessions:

• Achievements and challenges in nuclear safety and radiation management;
• Strengthening border control, national security and defense;
• Strengthening security and physical protection;
• Physical protection and training needs of educational institutions;
• Improving physical protection and crisis management.

Ukraine was represented in the sessions on nuclear and radiation safety by representatives of the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, the Security Service of Ukraine, the Institute for Training of Legal Personnel for the Security Service of Ukraine of the Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University, the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, the State Scientific and Technical Center for Nuclear and Radiation Safety, the State Agency of Ukraine on Exclusion Zone Management, the State Agency of Ukraine for Environmental Protection, and the State Agency of Ukraine for Environmental Protection.

The international community was represented by participants from the United States, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

The first session was devoted not only to nuclear and radiation safety issues, but also to the need to improve safety protocols and public awareness.

Maksym Shevchuk, Deputy Head of the State Agency of Ukraine on Exclusion Zone Management, presented the results of ongoing and priority projects for the restoration and development of the Exclusion Zone in the future. A representative of the State Enterprise NNEGC “Energoatom” reported on the current state of nuclear facilities in Ukraine, in particular on the consequences of the Zaporizhzhia NPP militarization, on problems related to drone attacks on energy systems and nuclear power plants under Ukrainian control.

Tetyana Verbytska, Press Secretary of the State Scientific and Technical Center for Nuclear and Radiation Safety and Uatom.org Project Manager, presented information on the Uatom.org website, in particular, emphasized the role of the website as an important tool for informing the public and disseminating information on nuclear and radiation safety during the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by russia. She also reported on the results of the Editorial Board’s work, quantitative indicators of the website and plans for the future.

In addition, as the COMMUNICATION project manager, Tetiana Verbytska spoke about the newly initiated project implemented jointly with the Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (DSA) and the SNRIU. The project is aimed at strengthening and developing communication skills of SNRIU/SSTC NRS experts and media specialists in the process of crisis communication and prevention of risks that may arise in the course of performing professional duties related to nuclear and radiation hazards. Organizational and financial support is provided by the Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority in the framework of Norwegian-Ukrainian cooperation in nuclear and radiation safety. The presentation informed about the project itself and the results of its two completed stages, which included developing and conducting of two trainings for SNRIU experts.

A representative of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine emphasized that security starts at the borders. That is why it is necessary to strengthen border control to combat illicit trafficking of radioactive materials. This can be ensured by improving the technical capacity and professional development of CBRN specialists.

For the first time, SE “USIE IZOTOP” participated in the meeting with a presentation on challenges for nuclear medicine in Ukraine. In particular, he reported on the high incidence of cancer in Ukraine and noted that almost all radiopharmaceuticals (except for a small part of diagnostic ones) and 100% of the relevant equipment are supplied from abroad. At the same time, supply routes and increased time spent by patients waiting for medicines and diagnostic products are complicated by the closure of airspace due to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by russia.

During the session “Needs of Educational Institutions in Physical Protection and Training”, a representative of the National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute” emphasized the need to improve the level of education at nuclear physics faculties through the introduction of new technologies, noting that the modern generation is “electronic” and it is easier to communicate with it through innovations.

A representative of the Security Service of Ukraine also emphasized the importance of introducing innovations in CBRN, stating: “Our future lies in new technologies that we must use and that will help protect our children and our tomorrow.”

A representative of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SESU) emphasized the need to develop CBRN units and increase their capacity but noted: “The SESU is always 100% ready to respond to CBRN incidents, because no matter how outdated the equipment is, our priority is to save people.” These words were supported by Lars van Dassen, Executive Director of the World Institute for Nuclear Safety, who emphasized that people working in this area should have the best means for their own protection and for the people they protect.

At the end of the meeting, Lars van Dassen emphasized: “The key mission of all those present is to think about what I personally can do to protect Ukraine and defeat Russia. This will be our contribution to the victory”.

Uatom.org Editorial Board