On March 25, the second collection of stories of people working in the nuclear energy sector, who survived occupation, tortureы, captivity, and made difficult decisions every day to ensure nuclear and radiation safety, was presented.

“Voices of Ukraine. Volume Two: Nuclear Security in Times of War” is a project of the World Institute for Nuclear Security (WINS), implemented with the support of the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine, NNEGC “Energoatom”, the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine, and the Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (DSA).

The second volume is dedicated to the stories of 22 specialists who found themselves at the epicenter of events during the forcible seizure of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant by russian military, and those who survived the occupation and deoccupation of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone.

Executive Director of the World Institute for Nuclear Safety (WINS) Lars van Dassen emphasized that the reaction of the world community to the book was unambiguous: at first, shock and incomprehension, how those things could have happened, and subsequently, incredible admiration for the courage and heroism of Ukrainian power sector employees.

“The russian federation has demonstrated particular cruelty and aggression against nuclear industry specialists and their family members, but it has not broken them. WINS will always support those people who stand on the side of light, protecting nuclear and radiation safety,” Lars van Dassen said.

Head of Energoatom Petro Kotin expressed gratitude to the authors of the project for their persistent and extremely important work.

“This publication is an evidence of courage and high professionalism of our employees, who, despite all the difficulties, ensure the stable operation of the nuclear energy industry. The book also highlights the importance of international support and solidarity in these difficult times. I would like to thank everyone who contributed to the development of the second volume, and I wish us all peace, stability, and further success in our common cause,” Petro Kotin commented.

Within the framework of the event, a panel discussion on the challenges and threats to nuclear security was arranged. Energoatom specialist Vyacheslav Varvarov, whose story is provided in the book, took part in it.