NRSWG Meeting in Chisinau: International Community Consolidates Efforts to Support Nuclear and Radiation Safety in Ukraine

On 29-30 April 2025, the meeting of the Global Partnership Nuclear and Radiological Security Sub-Working Group (NRSWG) was held in Chisinau, Moldova. The event was arranged to bring together the international donors, focus on and coordinate efforts on the implementation of projects in Ukraine.

Representatives of the USA, Great Britain, Italy, France, Canada, Germany, Norway, Finland, Ukraine, Japan, Sweden and international organizations such as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), European Commission (EC), World Institute for Nuclear Security (WINS), United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) participated in the meeting.

Maria Enbom, representative of the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority (SSM) and Co-Chair of the NRSWG meeting, stressed the importance of this event and the need for comprehensive support of Ukraine. She focused on the issue that the needs of the country cover not only supply of modern protective and technical equipment, but also provision of expert assistance in countering CBRN threats, as well as in restoration of critical infrastructure. She noted that efficient implementation of such efforts requires not only financing, but also proper interdepartmental coordination, knowledge exchange and long-term strategic approach.

“We gathered here not only as representatives of countries and institutions, but also as partners united by the common responsibility that is to protect peace, justice and the right of a sovereign state for freedom… Supporting Ukraine is not charity, but it is protection of the international law and an investment in global security. We have to reaffirm our shared commitment to Ukraine, to each other and to the values we stand for”.

Maria Enbom

Ukraine was represented by participants from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Recovery and Reform Support Team within the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine, Support Forces of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, State Transport Special Service, National Guard of Ukraine, Institute of Legal Personnel Training for the Security Service of Ukraine of the Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University, State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SESU), State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, State Agency of Ukraine on Exclusion Zone Management (SAUEZM), Central Enterprise for Radioactive Waste Management (CERWM), Chornobyl NPP, Radon Association, SSE Ecocenter, Skhidny Mining and Processing Plant (SkhidGZK), Energoatom, State Scientific and Technical Center for Nuclear and Radiation Safety (SSTC NRS), USIE Izotop, Nuclear Research Institute under the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kharkiv Institute of Physics and Technology, Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute.

The meeting covered six sessions devoted to nuclear and radiation safety, improvement of physical protection level, ensuring border security and countering illicit trafficking of radioactive substances, response to CBRN threats, protection of radiation sources, management of radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel, education and training of personnel in the field of nuclear and radiation safety.

Anna Horashchenkova, representative of the Recovery and Reform Support Team within the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine, stressed the scale and seriousness of faced challenges, which are not only a threat to national security of Ukraine, but also pose significant risks to regional and global nuclear and radiation safety:

“Every day we witness targeted russian attacks on the energy infrastructure of Ukraine and their attempts to interrupt operation of Ukrainian nuclear power plants. Every day we deal with violation of regulatory control on occupied or damaged facilities, with physical vulnerability of radiation sources on the territories that suffered from hostilities, as well as with high risks of emergencies due to destroyed infrastructure, limited maintenance and difficult access”.

Representatives of state authorities and specialized organizations presented relevant information on the status of activities in the field of nuclear and radiation safety, highlighted priority needs and project initiatives aimed at strengthening national security system.

During the meeting, specific attention was paid to the damage of the New Safe Confinement (NSC) of the Shelter above ChNPP Unit 4 caused by the russian attack involving an unmanned aerial vehicle in February 2025. Tetiana Maltseva, SAUEZM representative, made a detailed overview of the current state of the Chornobyl Zone, in particular in the context of overcoming consequences of the large-scale fires in 2024 and damages caused to NSC. She said that representatives of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, as well as a number of donor countries, have already visited the facility for preliminary assessment of the extent of the destruction. At present, an action plan on NSC restoration is under development. At the same time, as specified during the discussion, there is a growing concern in the international community about whether the facility after maintenance will be able to ensure the level of protection envisaged by the design documents.

Oleksandr Zaitsev, SESU representative, reported on the participation of the SESU in eliminating consequences of the attack on NSC and demonstrated the video with the moment of russian unmanned aerial vehicle crashing into NSC and immediate response of Ukrainian fire rescue units. Specialized fire rescue units of the SESU, including the most trained experts such as rescuers-climbers, chemists, doctors and units for the use of unmanned systems were involved to respond to the emergency. In order to dismantle damaged components of NSC and to prevent smoldering, the rescuers conducted activities from outside of the protective structure at a height of 100 m. Personnel rotation was ensured to minimize radiation exposure.

Kateryna Shornikova-Monakhos, representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, informed that the damage caused poses a direct threat to the stability of the Shelter, and the specified actions of the aggressor state on urgent need for strengthening measures on physical protection of nuclear facilities, as well as for activation of international cooperation to prevent such threats in future.

Aliona Yarushevska, Public Relations and Press Officer of the SSTC NRS and Uatom.org website editor, also participated in the meeting and presented information on the project emphasizing website importance as a key instrument for informing the public on nuclear and radiation safety issues. She said that Uatom.org is the longest running uninterrupted communication project in the field of nuclear and radiation safety, which has been a reliable source of professional information, which contributes to transparency, improves awareness of the public and development of international cooperation. In addition, the results of the COMMUNICATION Project implemented together with the Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (DSA) and the SNRIU were presented. The Project is aimed at increasing awareness of the SNRIU/SSTC NRS experts and representatives of the mass media on risk and crisis communication during events related to nuclear and radiation threats. The presenter emphasized the importance of improving cooperation between experts in the field of nuclear and radiation safety and the media, developing practical skills in crisis communication, countering disinformation and effective informing of the public in conditions of full-scale war.

Uatom.org Editorial Board