The Ukrainian Parliament on Tuesday passed a contentious bill allowing the government to purchase two unused, Russian-made nuclear reactors from Bulgaria for at least $600 million. This project has faced sharp criticism over its high cost and lengthy timeline.
The Ukrainian government intends to install the reactors at the Khmelnytskyi nuclear power plant in western Ukraine, arguing that they will help strengthen a grid compromised by ongoing Russian attacks. Bulgaria acquired the reactors over a decade ago from Russia’s state-owned nuclear company, Rosatom, but they have never been operational.
Energy experts and anti-corruption activists have raised concerns that the installation of the reactors will take years and recommend that funds be redirected towards weapon procurement or immediate energy resilience solutions, such as small gas turbines.
There are also apprehensions about the project potentially serving as a front for money laundering, considering Ukraine’s history of corruption involving the energy ministry and Energoatom, the state-owned nuclear company overseeing the purchase. Recent arrests of top officials on bribery charges have heightened these concerns.
The reactor purchase has garnered significant attention in Kyiv's diplomatic and political circles, as it addresses critical challenges related to rebuilding energy infrastructure, allocating financial resources, and addressing corruption in the war-torn nation.
Opposition lawmaker Inna Sovsun, who voted against the measure, expressed concern about how foreign backers may perceive the decision, particularly in light of the uncertain U.S. support following President Trump's election. She emphasized the potential reputational damage to Ukraine in its anti-corruption efforts.
President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to sign the bill into law soon and has defended the project as a means to prevent winter blackouts and lower electricity prices, dismissing critics as self-serving.
Ukraine relies on its three operational nuclear power stations for more than half of its electricity, with many thermal and hydroelectric plants damaged by Russian attacks. Although Russia has refrained from directly attacking nuclear plants, it has targeted infrastructure that connects them to the power grid.
Energy Minister German Galushchenko has argued that expanding nuclear capacity is essential for long-term energy security and that purchasing the reactors from Bulgaria is the quickest and most cost-effective solution. Energoatom has stated that the existing Soviet-era reactors can only be sourced from former Soviet Union countries like Bulgaria, although plans are also in place to build new reactors using Western technology.
Critics of the project maintain that the lengthy installation timeline is problematic, arguing that immediate repairs to damaged substations and power plants are more pressing. Additionally, the government faces financial challenges, as the European Union has declined to fund the purchase, leaving Ukraine to find alternative financing.
Furthermore, the risks associated with placing nuclear reactors in a war zone have raised alarms, particularly concerning the potential for a nuclear disaster at the Zaporizhzhia plant, which has been targeted during the conflict.