MoD initiates international projects to enhance nuclear and radiological security

The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine has presented proposals for cooperation on nuclear and radiological security to international donors and partners.

These initiatives were introduced at a session of the Global Partnership Nuclear and Radiological Security Working Group (GPNRSWG), which took place in Chișinău, Moldova, under the initiative of Canada’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Colonel Valerii Veber, Deputy Head of the Main Directorate of Mine Action, Civil Protection, and Environmental Safety, emphasized that strengthening the physical security of radiologically hazardous facilities and enhancing national capabilities in nuclear and radiological security are among key priorities for the Ministry of Defence. This focus has intensified following the 2014 annexation of Crimea and the onset of russia’s full-scale armed aggression in February 2022.

Colonel Valerii Veber emphasized that, considering global risks and instances of terrorist attacks on nuclear facilities, the Ministry of Defence is supporting the National Guard of Ukraine and the Security Service of Ukraine in preventing potential terrorist acts, including by strengthening air defense capabilities for nuclear sites.

The Ministry of Defence also oversees several Soviet-era radioactive waste disposal sites, which contain ionizing radiation sources that were once used in specialized military equipment and apparatus.

“To mitigate the environmental and civilian impact of radioactive waste, we aim to reburial it. However, this can only be achieved with the support of international partners, as russia's full-scale military invasion has significantly drained financial resources,” the Ministry of Defence representative said.

He added that a similar positive example already exists: in 2018, the radioactive waste from the Tsybuleve site was reburied within the framework of the NATO Trust Fund.

The Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction (the Global Partnership) is a G7-led, 31-member states international initiative.