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Ukrainian nuclear energy in general and the construction of new power units at Khmelnytsky NPP in particular are becoming an important area of manipulation that is being “thrown into” the Ukrainian media field.
The Centre for Strategic Communications and Information Security has identified and refuted the main information fakes.
False: “To complete KhNPP-3 and KhNPP-4, Ukraine will purchase nuclear reactors from Rosatom.”
In fact: Ukraine completely refused to cooperate with Rosatom after the outbreak of a full-scale war, terminating all agreements with the Russian side in the nuclear sector. Instead, direct commercial negotiations are underway with the Bulgarian government to purchase equipment and reactors from the Belene NPP, which is owned by the Bulgarian state energy company Natsionalna Elektricheska Kompania EAD.
False: “KhNPP-3 and KhNPP-4 will operate on Russian fuel.”
In fact: Ukraine has completely stopped importing Russian nuclear fuel for its NPPs. Thanks to the cooperation between Energoatom and the American company Westinghouse, fuel has been developed that is already successfully used in VVER-440 and VVER-1000 reactors. Westinghouse has officially confirmed that VVER-1000 reactors, which are planned to be installed at KhNPP Units 3 and 4, will be able to operate on American fuel.
False: “The technical documentation and calculations for completing KhNPP-3.4 are outdated.”
In fact: On 3 February 2025, Energoatom entered into an agreement with Kyivenergoproekt to update the feasibility study and estimated construction cost. The project envisages the use of modern technologies, current prices for equipment and materials, as well as the cost of the first load of fresh nuclear fuel.
False: “Ukraine does not need new large nuclear power units.”
In fact: New nuclear power capacity is needed today. The completion of KhNPP-3 and KhNPP-4 will allow replacing power units that will reach the end of their lifetime after 2030 and reduce Ukraine’s dependence on electricity imports, which reached 2.1 GW in 2024. In addition, the new power units will help compensate for the losses caused by Russian attacks on energy infrastructure.
False: “There are no trained personnel to operate the new power units.”
In fact: Ukraine has more than 5,000 highly qualified nuclear workers who remained loyal to their country and moved from the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia NPP. They continue to maintain their qualifications by working at other Ukrainian NPPs. In addition, Energoatom has intensified cooperation with higher education institutions to train new specialists.
False: “Nuclear power is losing popularity in the world.”
In fact: Nuclear power remains an important component of the global energy mix. Demand for electricity is growing, and it is expected that by 2030, more than 200 TWh of additional electricity will be needed to power artificial intelligence alone. At the COP29 climate summit in Baku, 31 countries acknowledged the key role of nuclear power in achieving international environmental goals. Belgium and Spain are reconsidering the decision to close nuclear power plants, and Germany has started expert discussions on a possible return to nuclear power.
It is important to note that the development of nuclear energy does not contradict the development of renewable energy sources, but rather complements them, ensuring the stability of the energy system.
Top-level support
The completion of KhNPP-3 and KhNPP-4 is supported by the President of Ukraine, the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Energy, the Ministry of Energy and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
“I am grateful to the IAEA Director General for supporting the Ukrainian strategy of completing nuclear units at Khmelnytskyi NPP. The completion project is the key to Ukraine’s energy independence and energy stability of the region, and it is important that the people’s deputies of Ukraine support it,” President Zelenskyy noted.
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