US warns Russia against accessing American nuclear technology at Ukrainian power plant
The US Department of Energy sent a letter to Russia's state nuclear firm Rosatom warning that it is unlawful for Russian entities to access or handle US-origin nuclear technology at Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. The plant, Europe's largest nuclear facility, has been under Russian control since the 2022 invasion and contains export-controlled US technical data. The warning underscores US concerns about nuclear security amid ongoing Russian control of the facility and repeated disconnections from Ukraine's power grid due to shelling.
The US Department of Energy sent a March 17, 2023 letter to Rosatom, Russia's state-owned nuclear energy firm, explicitly warning that it is unlawful for Russian citizens or entities to access, possess, or manipulate US-origin nuclear technology and technical data at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in southeastern Ukraine. The letter, reviewed by CNN, specifies that the plant contains export-controlled US technical data and outlines potential penalties for unauthorized access. The Zaporizhzhia facility, Europe's largest nuclear power station, has been under Russian military control since the 2022 invasion, though Ukrainian staff continue to operate it while Rosatom manages it. A separate October 2022 letter from the Energy Department's Office of Nonproliferation Policy to the department's Inspector General confirms the US has no record of authorizing the transfer of this technology to any Russian national or entity. The warning reflects broader concerns about nuclear security at the site, which has been repeatedly disconnected from Ukraine's power grid due to intense Russian shelling in the area.
What's missing
The specific nature and scope of the US-origin nuclear technology at the plant is not detailed. Additionally, there is no information about whether or how the US might enforce this warning or what consequences Russia might face for violations.
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US warns Russia not to touch American nuclear technology at Ukrainian nuclear plant
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