Ukrainian Government Faces Resistance Over Russian Nuclear Reactor Purchase
The Ukrainian government is grappling with increasing opposition to its plan to purchase Russian nuclear reactors from Bulgaria. The multi-billion euro deal is under fire for potentially opening avenues for corruption among public officials, especially at a time when the government has pledged to cleanse the country’s energy sector of such issues.
Officials aim to launch two new units at the Khmelnytskyi Nuclear Power Plant in western Ukraine, arguing that these additions will help strengthen the country’s energy grid, which has been severely damaged by Russian bombings. The government claims that the quickest way to achieve this is by acquiring Russian reactors currently stored in Bulgaria, with a minimum price tag of €600 million (approximately 1.2 billion UAH).
However, the deal requires approval from Ukrainian lawmakers, and several parliament members, including at least one from President Volodymyr Zelensky’s own party, argue that it could create a significant hole in an already devastated national budget. They point out that the reactors are based on outdated Russian technology, raising concerns about their effectiveness in helping Ukrainians cope with impending power outages.
On Tuesday morning, government officials met with members of parliament to discuss the matter. According to two attending deputies, the government acknowledged that it currently lacks the necessary support amid prevailing doubts. “It is extremely rare for something at such a high level to lack backing,” said Andriy Zhupanin, a deputy from Zelensky’s ruling party and a member of the energy committee. He posed several unanswered questions: “Can we afford to buy Russian nuclear reactors during a full-scale invasion? And what is the condition of these reactors? They were purchased from Bulgaria 10 to 12 years ago; will they even work upon arrival in Ukraine?”
Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko, who advocates for the plan, dismissed these concerns. He argues that expanding nuclear energy is the only way to keep the beleaguered energy grid operational, claiming that the two VVER-1000 reactors represent the quickest and cheapest available option. “After the Russian attacks, nuclear energy accounts for 60% of our energy mix and is the backbone of our energy system,” he stated in remarks to POLITICO. “Developing and adding more units to the Khmelnytskyi Nuclear Power Plant is a priority for the Ukrainian government.”
Need for Nuclear Energy Amid Corruption Concerns
The dispute has created further controversy as Ukraine strives to tackle corruption within its energy sector. Earlier this week, Deputy Minister of Energy Alexander Heil was arrested on charges of soliciting a $500,000 bribe in exchange for transferring equipment from a state-owned coal mining company. Zhupanin and his colleagues contend that purchasing Russian nuclear reactors could pave the way for more such shady dealings.
“Over the past ten years, there have been numerous criminal cases against individuals exploiting tenders to siphon funds from Ukraine’s state nuclear energy company,” he said in an interview. “If you allow them to spend billions on this, you can expect a series of criminal cases over the next decade.”
Galushchenko Denies Accusations of Government Concealment
Ukrainian official Galushchenko has refuted claims that the government is hiding information. “The very fact that the law is in parliament and we are discussing its provisions with lawmakers and the public is a clear sign of our openness,” he stated. “All speculations regarding ‘transparency’ are manipulations by forces and circles that are not interested in the development of Ukraine’s nuclear state sector.”
Despite these assurances, parliamentarians continue to assert that the government has failed to address crucial questions about how the deal ensures value for money or tackles the challenges facing the beleaguered energy grid. Yaroslav Zheleznyak, an economist and deputy from the Ukrainian liberal party “Holos,” expressed doubts about the government’s ability to alleviate these concerns. “There are many deputies from almost all factions who do not support it,” he told POLITICO following a meeting on Tuesday. “We are worried about corruption in this public procurement process, and we have not received any explanations.”
The Ukrainian energy and environmental NGO “Ecodia” has also voiced concerns regarding the proposals for the Khmelnytsky project, arguing that it will rely on “outdated equipment produced in Russia” and that “the use of obsolete technology may lead to serious safety and efficiency issues.”
Meanwhile, in Bulgaria, the deal has also faced resistance due to issues with the steam generator of the 6th unit at the Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant, which may potentially be replaced with some of the equipment purchased for the uncompleted nuclear plant in Belene. This, however, is part of the potential deal with Ukraine, and there have been suggestions to halt it until it is clarified whether equipment from “Belene” can be used for “Kozloduy.” Nevertheless, lawmakers did not accept this proposal and instead decided to grant the energy minister more time for negotiations to conduct the necessary analyses.
