Ukrainian Nuclear Society and Atomprofspilka Representatives Participate in NucTalks Seminar and BSWN-WINCA Technical Exchange

From February 9 to 13, Vienna hosted a Technical Exchange Visit for the Black Sea Women in Nuclear Network (BSWN) and WINCA (Women in Nuclear Central Asia). The event focused on the technical and institutional aspects of nuclear security and non-proliferation.

As part of the visit, the Vienna Center for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation (VCDNP) hosted the NucTalks seminar: “Regional Perspectives on Non-Proliferation, Radiological and Nuclear Security.” The seminar addressed regional challenges in non-proliferation, nuclear and radiological security, and the impact of propaganda and disinformation on the nuclear sector. The program covered security aspects in the Black Sea region and the Ukrainian wartime context, including nuclear coercion and blackmail, the seizure of Ukrainian nuclear facilities, the role of Rosatom as a tool of Russian state policy, and practical frameworks for implementing nuclear security.

Featured speakers and moderators included:

• Polina Sinovets: Nuclear coercion in Russian policy during the war against Ukraine.
• Federica Dall’Arche: Fundamentals of nuclear non-proliferation.
• Iryna Maksymenko: The phenomenon of the seizure of Ukrainian nuclear facilities.
• Olga Brusylovska: Russian nuclear blackmail as a threat to nuclear security.
• Anastasia Shapochkina: Rosatom as an “arm” of the Russian state.
• Experts from Georgia and Moldova on radiological security.

At the invitation of BSWN, the events were attended by Tetiana Zakrevska and Khrystyna Lylak representing the Ukrainian Nuclear Society (UKrNS), and Khrystyna Levchenko representing the Nuclear Power and Industry Workers Union of Ukraine (Atomprofspilka).

Tetiana Zakrevska, Head of the UkrNS branch on the basis of the “Atomprojectengineering” JSC “NNEGC “Energoatom” focused on nuclear material accounting and control in the context of the Central Spent Fuel Storage Facility (CSFSF). She emphasized the importance of procedures and systems that ensure transparency and safety in material handling, even under high-risk conditions.

Khrystyna Levchenko, Head of the Youth Organization of Atomprofspilka, provided a vital perspective on the situation of Zaporizhzhia NPP personnel under occupation, highlighting challenges to human rights, safety, and the facility’s operational resilience. These presentations complemented the broader workshop discussion on threats to regional nuclear and radiological security and ways to strengthen international cooperation.

A dedicated day was titled “Women in Nuclear: Networking and Dialogue,” featuring introductory remarks and an overview of the VCDNP, a meeting with H.E. Alison Grant, Ambassador of Canada to Austria, and a roundtable discussion with representatives from WINS (World Institute for Nuclear Security) and partner organizations on enhancing expertise and leadership opportunities.

The final two days were devoted to the BSWN and WINCA Technical Exchange Visit, aimed at deepening knowledge through practical dialogue. At the VCDNP, participants attended professional sessions on emerging technologies, their impact on nuclear security, and the history of the IAEA. This was followed by a meeting with experts from the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). The day concluded with a technical tour of the TRIGA Center Atominstitut, where participants observed the operation of a research reactor.

The final day took place at the Vienna International Center (VIC), focusing on international institutions and emergency response. Participants met with representatives of the IAEA Nuclear Security Division and visited the IAEA Incident and Emergency Centre. The visit concluded with an extensive tour of the CTBTO, providing an in-depth look at one of the key international organizations in the field of verification and security.

We express our gratitude to all organizers and the Ukrainian chapter of the Black Sea Women in Nuclear Network (BSWN) for the invitation and the opportunity to participate in such a comprehensive and meaningful international event.