In 2022, russian military aggression against Ukraine became one of the significant catalysts for the diversification of nuclear fuel supplies from russia, as well as an impetus for refusing further relatiionship with the aggressor country in nuclear sector. However, the path to diversifying fuel supplies for power units was not easy and required significant efforts for Ukrainian NPPs to finally stop using russian nuclear fuel. In cooperation with Westinghouse, Energoatom specialists worthily overcame all obstacles, solved technical problems, and today the Westinghouse fuel assembly is a standard product for VVER-1000 and VVER-440 units in Ukraine.

As a Soviet inheritance, Ukraine obtained four nuclear power plants, powerful workforce capacity and scientific potential, and at the same time complete technological dependence on a single supplier – the russian tvel company. Nevertheless, as early as 1992, the first attempts to diversify fuel supplies for Ukrainian NPPs took place. Westinghouse offered cooperation in this direction:  in particular, support for Ukraine’s switching over to alternative nuclear fuel supplies, and subsequently to the establishment of domestic production for VVER-1000 reactors.

By the end of the 1990s, Westinghouse had already accumulated experience in operating Soviet-design reactors in Europe, for example, at the Temelín NPP in the Czech Republic; that allowed it to move from theoretical discussions to practical implementation of its project in Ukraine. Therefore, Westinghouse become well prepared to implement the project on alternative fuel supplier licensing for Ukrainian NPPs. For this purpose, the Center for Reactor Core Design was established in Kharkiv, a Ukrainian team of specialists was formed, and the first test site, the South Ukraine NPP was determined. The beginning of the 2000s was a period of engineering work, personnel training, and preparation for pilot operation.

After russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Energoatom completely got rid of purchasing nuclear fuel from the aggressor country and intensified negotiations with Westinghouse Electric Sweden on establishing the necessary FA production in Ukraine.

The first stage of nuclear fuel production for Ukrainian reactors was gaining the license and status of a certified supplier of Westinghouse by the relevant subdivision of Energoatom in 2025. This opens the way for serial production of VVER-1000 FA bottom nozzles, which is planned for 2026. The stage of licensing top nozzles for these fuel assemblies is currently being completed.

The establishment of domestic nuclear fuel production for the national NPP fleet has become a key direction of Ukraine’s state policy in nuclear field. Moreover, Energoatom and Westinghouse became the main players in this area.

As a result of many years of cooperation, Westinghouse has become the sole manufacturer of nuclear fuel for Ukrainian NPPs, confidently displacing russian tvel company from the market. In a very short period, owing to Westinghouse technologies, Energoatom managed to switch over its VVER-440 reactors to American nuclear fuel: on September 10, 2023, NNEGC specialists loaded the first batch of Westinghouse nuclear fuel into the Rivne NPP VVER-440.

That event significantly influenced the strengthening of Ukraine’s energy independence and security and showed the world a real example of a successful rejection of russian technologies. Moreover, Westinghouse fuel technologies reliably support the operation of the entire fleet of NPP reactors operating in Ukraine.

The activities have not been finished yet: in 2025, JSC “NNEGC “Energoatom” and Westinghouse extended their cooperation by signing relevant agreements; as a result of that Ukraine would get:

• a license for the production of high-quality modern nuclear fuel;
• technical documentation;
• domestically manufactured equipment;
• trained personnel.

The history of nuclear fuel diversification for Ukrainian NPPs is an example of how consistency, a scientific approach and international cooperation can ensure real energy security. Currently, Energoatom has diversified supplies and is creating domestic production, having got rid of the Russian monopoly.

At the same time, russia, after losing its monopoly on the supply of nuclear fuel to Ukraine, is actively advancing on the information front. Recent manipulative publications in the media with distorted facts about the cooperation between Energoatom and Westinghouse show evidence for russian propaganda – the kremlin cannot accept the loss of leverage over the Ukrainian energy sector. Such attacks have a single goal: to discredit Ukraine’s strategic partnership with world nuclear leaders as well as sow distrust in the projects ensuring our energy independence.