In brief
Ukrainian lawmakers have passed a law approving the acquisition of two nuclear reactors from Bulgaria, but the move is met with widespread criticism regarding its financial implications and potential for corruption.
The Ukrainian Parliament, on February 11, 2025, has officially approved a contentious law allowing the government to proceed with the purchase of two Russian-made nuclear reactors from Bulgaria, a move that has ignited fierce debate within the country. Estimated to cost at least $600 million, critics argue that this project will take too long to realize, thus delaying efforts to strengthen Ukraine's energy grid which has been severely damaged by ongoing Russian offensives.These reactors were initially acquired by Bulgaria over ten years ago from the Russian state-owned nuclear company, Rosatom, but have remained unused to date. The Ukrainian government intends to install them at the Khmelnytskyi nuclear power plant situated in western Ukraine, asserting that this step is essential for revitalizing the nation’s energy capabilities.Experts in energy and anti-corruption activists have voiced their concerns that rather than investing in such a lengthy and expensive project, the funds would be better utilized for the acquisition of weapons or for urgent measures aimed at boosting energy resilience, such as deploying small gas turbines nationwide.Additionally, there is considerable worry that the reactor purchase could become a cover for money laundering due to the corrupt history of Ukraine's energy ministry and Energoatom, the state-owned nuclear agency responsible for overseeing this procurement. Recent months have seen numerous arrests of key officials charged with bribery, further compounding skepticism surrounding this deal.The potential acquisition has been closely monitored within Ukraine’s political and diplomatic circles, as it intersects critical challenges the nation faces — rebuilding the energy sector, allocating scarce financial resources effectively, and tackling pervasive corruption issues. “It’s going to be a test,” remarked Inna Sovsun, an opposition lawmaker serving on Parliament’s energy committee, who cast one of the 39 dissenting votes against the initiative while 261 members supported it.
