SMRs in Ukraine: From Strategy to Implementation. Energy Security and Recovery

On March 19, 2026, Kyiv hosted a major round table dedicated to the prospects of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). The event brought together leading experts on a single platform organized by the Ukrainian Nuclear Society (UkrNS) and Atomprojectengineering, a branch of JSC “NNEGC “Energoatom”.

The event was attended by over 50 specialists, including representatives of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine, the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate (SNRIU), the State Agency of Ukraine on Exclusion Zone Management (SAEZM), JSC “NNEGC “Energoatom”, NEC “Ukrenergo”, PJSC “Centrenergo”, PJSC “ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih”, Holtec International, as well as leading Ukrainian enterprises, nuclear research organizations, regional branches of UkrNS, and specialized higher education institutions.

As emphasized by the President of UkrNS, Volodymyr Kholosha, amidst ongoing attacks on the energy system, SMR technology could become a pivotal strategic step toward the decentralization and balancing of the power grid.

Member of Parliament Anatoliy Kostiukh presented Draft Bill No. 14164, which paves the way for private investment in innovative nuclear installations. Kostiantyn Zapaishchykov, Advisor to NEC “Ukrenergo”, highlighted the need for systematic improvement of site placement mechanisms and overcoming legal inconsistencies.

Experts from Atomproektengineering shared practical implementation steps:

• Oleksandr Kosinskyi and Tetiana Zakrevska presented a vision of the technological components and regulatory challenges of SMR deployment.
• Serhii Kopyl outlined the requirements for Ukrainian manufacturers necessary for integration into the supply chains of new projects.
• Maryna Maksymenko presented an impressive concept of energy hubs and reported on the broader technical capabilities of SMRs, such as their use for hydrogen and ammonia production, and providing reliable power for data centers.

Vita Shpiller, Lead Engineer at Energy Safety Group (ES Group), shared expertise regarding safety justification and navigating complex expert assessments during SMR licensing.

Ukrainian business is already proving its competitiveness! Alina Behun, CEO of RPC “Radiy”, spoke about the company’s real-world participation in U.S. projects by TerraPower and NuScale Power, focusing on the development of innovative protection systems.

The scientific foundation for these ambitious plans was presented by Valerii Zuiok (Director of the “Institute of Nuclear Energy Research”), who analyzed the advantages of light-water reactors, and Yevhen Malyi (Senior Researcher at the Institute for Nuclear Research of the NASU), who outlined the role of SMRs in integration with the unified power system and the replacement of coal-fired thermal power plants.

Following the round table, a joint resolution – a roadmap for the Government – is being prepared.

The video recording of the event is available at: