CNN
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The US has sensitive nuclear technology nuclear power plant inside Ukraine and warns Russia not to touch it, according to a letter the US Department of Energy sent to Russian state nuclear energy company Rosatom last month.
In a letter reviewed by CNN and dated March 17, 2023, Energy Department Office of Nonproliferation Policy Director Andrea Ferkile tells Rosatom CEO that the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant at Energodar “contains nuclear technical data of U.S. origin, the export of which is controlled by the U.S. Government.”
Goods, software, and technology are subject to U.S. export controls if they could be used in a manner that would undermine U.S. national security interests.
The Energy Ministry's letter comes as Russian troops continue to control the plant, which is Europe's largest nuclear power plant and is located in the part of the Zaporozhye region that Russia occupied after invading Ukraine last February. The power plant was frequently cut off from Ukraine's power grid due to intense Russian shelling of the area, raising fears throughout Europe of a nuclear accident.
Although the plant is still physically run by Ukrainian employees, it is managed by Rosatom. In the letter, the Energy Department warned Rosatom that the handling of American technology by Russian citizens or organizations is “illegal.”
CNN has reached out to Rosatom for comment.
Satellite images show changes Russia is making to occupied nuclear power plant
“Under U.S. law, it is unlawful for unauthorized persons, including, but not limited to, Russian citizens and Russian entities,” the letter says, “such as Rosatom and its subsidiaries, to knowingly and intentionally access, possess, control, export, store, confiscate, inspect, re-export, ship, transfer, copy, manipulate, or direct such technology or technical data.” or authorize others to do the same without obtaining permission from such Russian organizations.” recipients from the US Secretary of Energy.”
It is unclear whether Rosatom responded to the letter. The Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration told CNN the letter was genuine.
The letters were first reported by RBC Ukraine.
“The Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration can confirm that the letter is legitimate,” said Shayela Hassan, deputy director of public affairs for the National Nuclear Security Administration.
She added: “The Secretary of Energy has statutory responsibility for authorizing the transfer of unclassified civilian nuclear technology and providing assistance to foreign nuclear energy enterprises. The Department of Energy does not comment on regulatory activities.”
Another letter from Ferkile to the Department of Energy Inspector General, reviewed by CNN and dated October 24, 2022, describes technology the U.S. exported to Ukraine for use at the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant and reiterates that the department “has no knowledge of any current approvals to transfer this technology and technical data to any Russian citizen or entity.”
The Department of Energy's Office of Nuclear Energy has publicly announced U.S. support for the plant and stated on its website in June 2021 that “the United States has helped implement new reactor maintenance procedures and operations that should ultimately strengthen energy security” in Ukraine.
CORRECTION: A previous version of this story incorrectly attributed the news outlet that first reported the letters. It was RBC Ukraine.
