British intelligence reveals how Ukraine managed to escape from Russian energy trap

The UK Ministry of Defense reported the information.

The ministry reminded that on September 10, Energoatom together with the American-Japanese nuclear fuel producer Westinghouse began using fuel assemblies at two power units of the Rivne NPP with a capacity of 440 megawatts each, and components for them will be manufactured in Ukraine in the future.

Ukraine's nuclear power plants are equipped with reactors constructed during the Soviet era, and until February 2022, the nation exclusively sourced its nuclear fuel from Russia. In response to the outbreak of a full-scale conflict, Ukraine expedited its efforts to diversify its nuclear fuel supply.

"With nuclear energy supplying approximately half of Ukraine’s electricity, Energoatom’s success in sourcing and installing Western fuel is a major waypoint in Ukraine’s long-term decoupling from Russia, whose influence over Ukraine’s energy supply is severely diminished," the statement said.

• On July 18, another power unit was commissioned at the Rivne NPP. The plant added 1000 MW of capacity. Power unit No.3 was under repair from May 16 to July 17. Thus, all 4 power units of the Rivne NPP are currently in operation. The total electric capacity of RNPP is 2686 MW today.