The full-scale invasion of the russian federation troops into the territory of Ukraine caused many political, economic, social troubles and problems. In addition to the destroyed infrastructure and huge mined areas, Ukraine also faced a radiation threat. In addition to the more than 1 year ZNPP occupation, the territory of the exclusion zone and the zone of unconditional (obligatory) resettlement was captured for a month, looted and mutilated.

Ukraine took another step towards ensuring nuclear and radiation safety and overcoming consequences of the Chornobyl accident. At the end of August, the Chornobyl NPP received a license to process and store the radioactive waste that has accumulated and is being generated in Shelter transformation into an environmentally safe system (operation of the Confinement and Shelter system).

From 1 to 19 September this year, joint international radiation monitoring exercises were held in the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone (CEZ) under a project of the German Federal Office for Radiation Protection and State Specialized Enterprise “Ecocenter” with the assistance of the German Embassy in Ukraine. The objective was to prepare an up-to-date map showing the distribution of Cs-137 radiation contamination and predict the nature of its changes.

According to the management of the State Scientific and Technical Center for Nuclear and Radiation Safety (SSTC NRS), training and improvement of knowledge and skills are not only current requirements, but also an integral part of daily activity. Being guided by this paradigm, SSTC NRS actively develops the popular work area such as education and training for experts of institutions and organizations acting in the field of nuclear energy and participates in various domestic and international educational projects.

The State Scientific and Technical Center for Nuclear and Radiation Safety (SSTC NRS) adheres to its mission of scientific and technical support for state regulation of nuclear and radiation safety in Ukraine to protect the public and the environment against man-made radiological effects and recognizes that comprehensive development and expansion of capabilities are among its responsibilities.

In April, the licensing process for operation of the dry interim spent fuel storage facility (ISF-2) at the Chornobyl NPP is to be completed.

With the formation and development of nuclear industry in Ukraine, it became obvious that a scientific and technical journal which would openly discuss safety issues of nuclear technology should be established. For this purpose, the State Scientific and Technical Center for Nuclear and Radiation Safety (SSTC NRS), jointly with the Odessa State Polytechnic University, founded Nuclear and Radiation Safety Journal in 1998. March 2021 marks the 23rd anniversary of the first issue of Nuclear and Radiation Safety Journal.

Upon review of the Periodic Safety Review Report for Rivne-1, the Board of the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine allowed long-term operation of Rivne-1 until 22 December 2030.

While the entire world is facing the disease caused by СОVID-19 coronavirus infection, it is required to combine forces and implement urgent measures to ensure safety of the public. Following many countries, in the spring Ukraine entered a quarantine regime, continuing to day, and limited certain activities. However, the most important and most effective measure is conscious responsibility of each person.

The State Scientific and Technical Center for Nuclear and Radiation Safety (SSTC NRS) of Ukraine and the U.S. NuScale Power Company signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) providing for review of national regulatory and design documents related to the implementation of the NuScale technology for the construction of small modular reactors (SMRs) in Ukraine. The MoU was signed by SSTC NRS Director, Ihor Shevchenko, from the Ukrainian side and by NuScale Power’s Chief Operating Officer and Chief Nuclear Officer, Dale Atkinson, from the U.S. side.