WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) confirmed the authenticity of letters revealing concerns that unclassified nuclear technology and data provided to Ukraine may have inadvertently reached Russian entities, according to statements released Thursday. the letters, initially reported by RBC Ukraine, detail anxieties over potential unauthorized transfers related to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.
Shayela Hassan, Deputy Director of Public Affairs for the National Nuclear Security Governance (NNSA), stated, “The Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration can confirm that the letter is legitimate.” The NNSA is responsible for maintaining and enhancing the safety, security, and effectiveness of the U.S. nuclear stockpile. Hassan further noted that the secretary of Energy holds the legal authority to approve the transfer of non-classified nuclear technology and assistance to foreign atomic energy programs, but the DOE does not publicly discuss specific regulatory actions.
A letter from DOE official John Ferkile to the Energy Department’s Inspector General, dated October 24, 2022, and reviewed by CNN, specifically outlines the U.S.-exported technology utilized at the Zaporizhzhia plant. The letter reiterates that the department has “no record of any current authorization to transfer this technology and technical data to any Russian national or entity.” The Zaporizhzhia plant,located in Enerhodar,Ukraine,is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe.
the DOE’s Office of nuclear Energy has publicly acknowledged U.S.support for the Zaporizhzhia plant. In June 2021, the office’s website stated that the U.S. had assisted in implementing new maintenance procedures and operational improvements at the reactor, aiming to “ultimately strengthen energy security” in Ukraine. this support predates Russia’s full-scale invasion in february 2022. The Zaporizhzhia plant has been a focal point of international concern since Russian forces seized control of the facility in March 2022,wiht ongoing fears of a potential nuclear incident.
CORRECTION: A previous version of this story misattributed the news outlet that first reported the letters. It was RBC Ukraine.
