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Ukraine moves to shield Rivne nuclear plant from potential Russian attacks

Energoatom has contracted a $12 million project to build protective structures at the Rivne Nuclear Power Plant against potential Russian drone and missile attacks.
byYuri Zoria
30/09/2024
2 minute read
welcome sign rivne nuclear power plant suspilne station
Welcome sign at the Rivne Nuclear Power Plant. Photo: Suspilne.
Ukraine moves to shield Rivne nuclear plant from potential Russian attacks

Energoatom, Ukraine’s state nuclear energy company, has signed a contract worth 509 million UAH or $12.35 million to design and construct protective structures for the Rivne Nuclear Power Plant (NPP).

On 19 September, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the United Nations General Assembly, emphasizing that “Russia is turning nuclear energy into a weapon,” citing the situation at the occupied Zaporizhzhia NPP as an example, where it “blackmails others with the threat of radiation leakage” after it had captured the facility in 2022. On 24 September, Zelenskyy informed the UN Security Council that Russians were preparing to attack three Ukrainian nuclear power plants.

According to the investigative journalism project “Nashi Hroshi” (Our Money), the contract was finalized on 25 September, shortly after Zelenskyy’s speech highlighted the vulnerability of Ukrainian energy facilities to Russian attacks.

The protective structures, described as П-shaped reinforced concrete constructions, are designed to shield large transformers from drone attacks and fragmentation damage in case of indirect missile strikes. Similar structures have proven effective at Ukrenergo substations, where construction began last year.

Two nuclear power plant units were disconnected during Russia’s August 26 attack, Ukraine informs IAEA

Petro Kotin, head of Energoatom, stated in an interview with the “We Are Ukraine” TV channel,

“This is very alarming information that the President of Ukraine voiced. And it’s also very serious for us. On our part, we are working out all actions to increase protection in case of such very undesirable scenarios from Russia.”

The contract for the Rivne NPP protection project has been awarded to Zakhidelectromontazh LLC, a company based in Lutsk. Founded in 2009, the company is owned and directed by Ihor Rohalia, a former business partner of ex-deputy of the Volyn Oblast Council, Viktor Kobrynchuk, Liga says.

Details of the contract, including the dimensions of the structures, have not been disclosed. For comparison, Ukrenergo has previously signed contracts worth 98 million ($2.3 million) and 120 million hryvnias ($2.9 million) for structures protecting individual transformers.

Russia continues its deliberate daily air attacks on residential areas in attempts to terrorize civilians and damage civilian infrastructure. The Russian forces launch dozens of Shahed long-range “kamikaze” drones every night, often also launching several missiles during the attack. Recently, the Russians also intensified the guided bomb strikes, targeting residential neighborhoods of Ukrainian cities. Ukrainian energy facilities are often among key Russian targets.

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