Rosatom, Russia’s state-owned nuclear agency, plays a central role in Putin’s war machine—not only by controlling the occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine, the largest nuclear facility in Europe, but also by supporting the Kremlin’s nuclear weapons program.

“People buy Russian nuclear fuel thinking it’s just energy,” says Ukrainian energy expert Mykhailo Gonchar. “They’re actually funding the modernization of Russia’s warheads.”

Yet Rosatom remains largely unsanctioned. It controls 40% of the global nuclear fuel market, operates in dozens of countries, and fosters long-term strategic dependence through cheap fuel, financing, and technology transfers.

In this exclusive interview, Gonchar explains how Western contracts with Rosatom—often treated as standard commercial deals—are, in reality, helping underwrite Russia’s strategic weapons buildup.

Rosatom: A nuclear weapons corporation disguised as energy giant

Rosatom is often mistaken for just another state-owned energy company. In reality, it is a sprawling industrial empire with military priorities.

With over 435 subsidiaries and 340,000 employees—including 88,000 directly involved in nuclear weapons production—Rosatom’s civilian division is actually its secondary function.

This means every customer—from a European utility to an American importer—buying Rosatom fuel or technology is inadvertently supporting the Kremlin’s strategic weapons programs.

Despite this, Rosatom has faced virtually no meaningful sanctions. Only a few top executives have been individually targeted by Western governments.

“They’ve been pinched a bit,” Gonchar says. “The British started, then the Americans, then the Europeans. But nothing that causes critical, let alone fatal, problems for Rosatom.”

The reason, he adds, is straightforward: “The Russian nuclear octopus—after the Cold War—deeply infiltrated Western political and industrial structures by tempting everyone with cheap fuel and materials.”

The “nuclear octopus”: How Rosatom quietly took hold

A long game of strategic infiltration

Unlike Gazprom, Rosatom didn’t use flashy PR or pipeline diplomacy. It worked in silence—offering cut-rate uranium, maintenance contracts, and technical support to build influence across borders.

“Gas pipelines can be shut overnight, as Gazprom did in 2006 and 2009. But nuclear dependency is quiet, long-term—and far more dangerous.”

Rosatom doesn’t even need to be the top uranium miner. Its control over extraction in Kazakhstan gives it global leverage—making it a critical player in nuclear supply chains even when it isn’t the producer.

Country by country: How Rosatom built global influence

Hungary and Slovakia: Kremlin’s reliable allies

These two countries remain heavily dependent on Rosatom, ignoring EU pressure. “Hungary and Slovakia are Russia’s Trojan horses in Europe,” Gonchar says.

France: Europe’s biggest enabler

Despite having its own nuclear technology, France resists sanctions. A key project under Framatome in Lingen, Germany, is building a fuel facility licensed by Rosatom—under the guise of “diversification.”

A striking example is Framatome’s project in Germany, where a Rosatom-licensed facility is being developed in Lingen under the pretense of fuel diversification.

“They say it’s an alternative to American fuel,” Gonchar says. “But that’s misleading. Westinghouse hasn’t been a truly American company for a long time—and the fuel for Europe is made in Sweden, not the US.”

Specifically, Westinghouse produces European nuclear fuel at its plant in Västerås, Sweden—acquired over two decades ago from the Swedish industrial group ABB. These European operations were created precisely to serve European clients independently of US or Russian supply chains.

Bulgaria: Strategic indecision

“Bulgaria swings between the Americans and the Russians—often under the same leadership of Boyko Borisov,” Gonchar notes. “That’s why true energy independence hasn’t materialized.”

Finland: A model of disengagement

One of the few success stories, Finland fully cut nuclear ties with Russia after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The US and Rosatom: A dangerous dependency

Even the US has quietly bought Russian nuclear fuel for decades, often through front companies like Uranium One.

Cheap fuel was the excuse: “The Biden administration hesitated—where else would we get fuel that cheap?” Gonchar recalls.

While Congress passed a law in 2024 to phase out Russian imports, future reversals are a concern. “We’ve seen what happens to Biden-era laws under Trump,” he warns.

The dependency dates back to the 1990s, when Russia dumped MOX fuel—made from weapons-grade uranium and plutonium—on the market.

“It was a deliberate strategy,” Gonchar says. “Moscow wanted to hook the West on cut-rate uranium. Everyone applauded it back then. But the long-term damage was huge.”

Even environmental groups contributed:

“They lobbied to shut down US nuclear facilities. ‘Let’s outsource to Russia—it’s cheaper and safer,’ they said. And now we’re paying the price.”

Zaporizhzhia: A dormant burden with explosive risks

Rosatom oversees the occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, seized from Ukraine in 2022. All six reactors remain in cold shutdown. After Russia destroyed the Kakhovka Dam in June 2023, the plant lost its main source of cooling water. Only shallow, inadequate groundwater remains.

Still, the Kremlin is pushing for a restart—not to produce energy, but to assert symbolic control. A reactivated reactor would serve as a geopolitical showpiece, signaling dominance over Europe’s largest nuclear facility ahead of any peace talks.

But according to Gonchar, restarting the plant is “technically impossible” at this stage.

Key barriers to restart:

• Incompatible safety systems (Russia vs. EU standards)
• Insufficient skilled staff (only 1/3 of Ukrainian personnel remain)
• Damaged or missing grid infrastructure
• High risk of incident or meltdown
• No step-by-step IAEA safety approval

“Likhachov is scared,” Gonchar says of Rosatom’s chief. “Even a minor incident could create massive political fallout. No one wants to take the blame.”

Rather than a genuine restart, Rosatom may stage a theatrical “activation”—what Gonchar calls a Potemkin village ZNPP. But behind the performance lies deep anxiety. Moscow wants the appearance of control—without the risk of catastrophic failure.

The real mission: Weapons, not watts

Rosatom is more than just a reactor operator—it is a state tool for strategic weapons development. It also serves as a legal channel for importing dual-use goods under civilian pretexts.

This is how Rosatom circumvents export controls—while continuing to operate freely in US, EU, and Asian markets.

Conclusion: Time to name the threat

Rosatom is not a partner in clean energy—it’s the backbone of Russia’s nuclear weapons complex. Its business empire allows Moscow to fund warhead development, import banned technology, and exert quiet influence abroad.

“The window for action is still open,” Gonchar warns. “But only if the West recognizes what Rosatom really is—a nuclear weapons company hiding behind civilian contracts.”

As long as Rosatom remains unsanctioned, Western governments are funding both ends of Russia’s war effort—from battlefield drones to strategic warheads.

Concerns are growing over Russia’s efforts to restart the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), the largest nuclear facility in Europe. While official statements suggest the plant could soon reconnect to Russia’s grid, the technical and political reality on the ground is far more complex.

Meanwhile, Rosatom—the state-owned corporation now managing ZNPP—remains largely unsanctioned by the West, even though it plays a central role in Russia’s nuclear weapons program.

In this in-depth report, energy analyst Mykhailo Gonchar explains what’s really happening inside the plant—and why it matters far beyond Ukraine.

The water crisis that changed everything

The current phase of the nuclear crisis began in March 2022, when Russian forces took control of the Zaporizhzhia NPP. Despite the occupation, the facility initially continued to operate. But the risks from military activity soon became too great. By September 2022, all six reactors were placed in cold shutdown.

The real turning point came on 6 June 2023, when the Kakhovka Dam was destroyed, eliminating the plant’s primary source of cooling water. Since then, ZNPP has been forced to rely on limited groundwater reserves.

“Zaporizhzhia NPP was built in that exact location for a reason—because a lot of water is needed,” says Gonchar.

The plant was originally intended to be the world’s largest, with 10 reactors. Only six were completed, as plans were scaled back following the Chornobyl disaster—but it still became Europe’s largest nuclear facility—and one that now lacks the essential infrastructure for safe operation.

Behind Moscow’s messaging: The real plan

Since occupying the plant, Russia has made repeated claims that ZNPP will be reconnected and restarted. According to Gonchar, those claims are politically driven and technically misleading.

“They’re considering launching one or maybe two units — that’s the internal plan,” he says. “But publicly, they act like everything is ready and will work immediately.”

Gonchar notes that the Kremlin is exerting intense pressure on Rosatom. Former chief Sergey Kiriyenko, now a senior presidential adviser, is pressuring his successor, Alexey Likhachov, to show progress. But the technical team is hesitant.

“The reactors have sat idle for three years, with no proper maintenance or inspections. Restarting even one poses a serious danger.”

The stakes are high. If something goes wrong—even a minor incident—the political fallout could be severe.

Why restarting the plant isn’t technically possible

One of the least understood obstacles is technological incompatibility between Ukrainian and Russian nuclear systems.

“People assume the VVER reactors in Ukraine and Russia are the same,” Gonchar says. “Yes, the core hardware is similar. But everything around it—the energy periphery—is completely different now.”

Beginning in the mid-2000s, Ukraine partnered with Westinghouse —a company of American origin— and European firms to modernize its entire nuclear infrastructure. These upgrades weren’t just about fuel—they included safety systems, control units, and compliance with EU and WENRA standards after the Fukushima disaster.

With only a third of the original Ukrainian staff remaining at ZNPP, and Russian replacements unfamiliar with the Westernized systems, a safe restart is not technically feasible.

“They say they can. They claim they know everything. But in reality—they don’t.”

Is Russia rebuilding the grid?

Recent satellite imagery shows new transmission lines and towers between occupied areas like Mariupol and Berdiansk. Some reports suggest these could be used to reconnect ZNPP to Russia’s grid.

But Gonchar says appearances are misleading.

Electricity from ZNPP is generated at 750 kilovolts, far above consumer-level power. For it to be usable, it needs to pass through multiple step-down substations—none of which currently exist in the occupied zone.

“You can’t launch anything—nuclear or conventional—without a complete transmission chain. If any part is missing, nothing works.”

Why Russia wants Zaporizhzhia online (it’s not about power)

According to Gonchar, Russia’s motivations are geopolitical, not economic or technical.

“For the Kremlin, commercial considerations are secondary. What truly matters is the ability to use the plant as a powerful tool of nuclear blackmail.”

If even one reactor were restarted, the risk of a nuclear incident would rise significantly. That risk could be used as leverage in negotiations—particularly if Moscow blames future sabotage or drone attacks on Ukraine.

There’s also a regional energy incentive. Russia’s southern grid has long suffered from shortages, especially after the annexation of Crimea in 2014. Reconnecting ZNPP could relieve pressure on those systems—if it were actually possible.

The real threat: Rosatom is a nuclear weapons enterprise

Rosatom presents itself as a civilian nuclear energy firm. But its primary mission is nuclear weapons production. Of its approximately 340,000 employees, around 88,000 work in nuclear weapons divisions, while about 62,000 are involved in civilian nuclear energy.

This matters because every contract signed with Rosatom—for fuel, reactors, or services—helps fund Russia’s military-industrial complex, including warhead production.

Rosatom is also a vehicle for importing dual-use technology. Many of its international transactions are labeled as “machine-building products”—a category broad enough to cover nearly anything—allowing it to sidestep sanctions and obtain components that can be used in both civilian and military applications.

“They say it’s for the Rostov or Leningrad NPPs,” Gonchar adds, “but the same components can be used in missiles, drones—anything.”

The global fallout if ZNPP fails

A nuclear incident at Zaporizhzhia wouldn’t just be a local disaster. It would undermine Rosatom’s global operations, including major projects in:

• Hungary (Paks NPP expansion)
• Türkiye (Akkuyu NPP)
• India (Kudankulam)
• Egypt (El Dabaa)
• Bangladesh (Rooppur)

Yet ironically, project delays often benefit Rosatom financially, since extended timelines mean higher costs and more revenue.

“Delays only work in Rosatom’s favor,” Gonchar notes. “Timelines stretch, costs rise—and Rosatom gets paid more.”

What about the IAEA?

Russia cannot restart ZNPP without the approval of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). While the agency has allowed limited inspections under occupation, it retains final authority on operational safety.

According to Gonchar, if IAEA teams report no restart preparations, that likely reflects the truth. Even hidden activities would eventually be detected.

The real strategy: Optics over operation

What Russia can do, says Gonchar, is stage a performance—an on-camera ceremony to make it look like the plant is operational.

The timing may be strategic. As potential geopolitical talks (e.g., a Trump–Putin meeting) loom, Russia may try to present ZNPP as a fait accompli—even if the reactors never truly come back online.

Bottom line: Nuclear risk as political leverage

The key technical and operational barriers:

• No cooling water
• Incompatible systems with Russian technology
• Loss of qualified staff
• Incomplete infrastructure
• Required IAEA approvals
• Elevated incident risk

But the bigger threat isn’t the restart itself—it’s the narrative of activity, the coercion, and the continued acceptance of Rosatom as a civilian actor.

The opportunity to act remains—but the cost of further delay could be devastating.

Ukraine warns of a nuclear disaster risk that could impact all of Europe. Moscow is reportedly considering reconnecting the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant to the Russian energy grid despite serious technical problems, UNIAN reports.

According to Yury Sheiko, First Deputy Minister of Energy of Ukraine, the plant’s power units remain in cold shutdown and are not generating electricity. The station is still being powered by Ukraine’s energy grid.

“They have no spare parts, no equipment, and no idea how to maintain or repair it,” Sheiko stresses.

The situation is even more dangerous due to a lack of qualified personnel. Most Ukrainian specialists do not have access to the equipment, and the technical condition of the plant remains unknown.

“No repairs have been carried out. The plant is not ready to be restarted. It’s extremely risky,” he warns.

Ukraine believes that Russia is using the prospect of restarting the plant as a tool of nuclear blackmail, trying to pressure both Kyiv and the international community.

Earlier, Petro Andriushchenko, head of the Center for the Study of Occupation, reported that Russia may be preparing to connect the ZNPP to its own grid, constructing a power line to restore the plant’s full operation.

Meanwhile, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi stated that the agency has no evidence that the plant is being reconnected to the Russian grid. He also noted that the ZNPP cannot be restarted due to a lack of cooling water for the reactors.

The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, the biggest in Europe, occupied by Russian forces since March 2022, remains completely shut down, with all six reactors in a cold shutdown state.

In an interview with Reuters, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi emphasized that restarting the plant is not feasible under current conditions.

The key issues are an unstable power supply and, more critically, a lack of cooling water, which is essential for the safe operation of nuclear reactors.

“We are not in a situation of imminent restart of the plant. Far from that, it would take quite some time before that can be done,” Grossi said.

He explained that to bring even a single reactor back online, it would be necessary to install a new pumping system to draw water from the Dnipro River and inspect all equipment that has remained inactive for nearly three years.

Currently, IAEA missions access the plant from Russian-occupied territory, as Moscow no longer guarantees the safety of international experts entering from the Ukrainian side, as was previously the case.

Meanwhile, Greenpeace reports that Russian forces are building a new power line along the Azov Sea coast to connect the plant directly to Russia’s power grid. This may signal preparations to restart the plant independently, bypassing Ukrainian oversight.

In response, Ukraine has sent a formal diplomatic note to the IAEA, stressing that any attempt to restart the plant without authorization from Ukraine’s nuclear regulatory authority is illegal and poses an unacceptable threat to nuclear safety.

Exclusive

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The UN confirmed what I saw in Kherson: Russia is hunting civilians for sport. What I witnessed wasn’t random violence—it was systematic hunting.

Military

Ukraine hits Russian cruise missile factory near Moscow with long-range drones. Ukrainian drones successfully bypassed Russian air defenses to strike Raduga plant which produces the same Kh-101/555 cruise missiles that Russia uses to attack Ukrainian civilian infrastructure.

Frontline report: Romania and the US just drew a red line as the Black Sea boils over. As the Black Sea war between Russia and Ukraine intensifies, NATO allies are tightening defenses.

Ukrainian strikes hit drone manufacturer near Moscow as Russia claims 296 Ukrainian drones shot down. A drone factory in the Moscow Oblast was hit by Ukrainian aircraft as the Russian capital’s mayor reportedly issued 17 attack warnings in one day.

Frontline report: Russian thermobaric artillery spotted in Kharkiv gets obliterated by Ukrainian drones within hours. Ukrainian intel confirms Russian assessments show four months of operational weather before seasonal mud returns, as Russian forces mass 50,000 troops to expand from limited buffer zones to full conquest of Kharkiv and Sumy oblasts.

Night attack injures at least 12 people as Russia launches 88 drones and six missiles at Ukraine. Explosions were heard in Kharkiv, Poltava, Mykolaiv, Kherson and Kirovohrad oblasts

As of 28 MAY 2025, the approximate losses of weapons and military equipment of the Russian Armed Forces from the beginning of the invasion to the present day:

• • • Personnel: 983890 (+1050)
    • Tanks: 10864 (+4)
    • APV: 22644 (+2)
    • Artillery systems: 28355 (+18)
    • MLRS: 1397
    • Anti-aircraft systems: 1171
    • Aircraft: 372
    • Helicopters: 336
    • UAV: 37918 (+65)
    • Cruise missiles : 3265
    • Warships/boats: 28
    • Submarines: 1
    • Vehicles and fuel tanks: 49959 (+52)

Intelligence and technology

Ukraine and Germany sign agreement on long-range weapons. Germany will directly finance long-range weapons production on Ukrainian soil under a new agreement signed by both countries’ defense ministers.

Zelenskyy: 50,000 Russian troops mass near Sumy bordering Russia’s Kursk for new offensive. The Ukrainian president stated that Moscow aims to establish a 10-km (6 miles) “buffer zone” inside Ukrainian territory, though he expressed doubt about Russian capabilities to achieve this strategic objective.

Germany allocates $5.7 billion for Ukraine for weapons, ammunition and satellite communications. Germany will fund long-range weapon systems manufactured in Ukraine under agreements reached during President Zelensky’s visit to Berlin.

Forbes: Ukraine deploys AI turrets against record Russian drone attacks. The Sky Sentinel system costs one-hundredth the price of comparable US systems while defending against 120 mph drone attacks. A prototype Ukrainian robot gun has already shot down four Shahed drones

Russia aims to produce 500 drones daily as Ukraine strikes back with 400-drone attack. Russia has received orders to produce 500 drones daily but currently maintains capacity for only 300-350, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

International

Russia delays promised ceasefire memorandum ahead of new peace talks. Ukraine gives Russia four-day deadline. Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov claimed that the exchange of documents with conditions to end the war was supposed to be mutual following the 16 May Istanbul meeting, but only Ukraine has delivered its proposals to Russian delegation head.

Trump uncertain if Putin wants to end war, open to joining Zelensky-Putin meeting if needed. Trump also noted that he was very “disappointed” by the recent deadly attacks on civilians in Ukraine during the negotiation process.

Senior Russian official responds to Trump comment with World War III threat. US envoy calls this “reckless”. Keith Kellogg called for a ceasefire and reminded that the US is still awaiting the Russian memorandum for ending the war.

Putin-Zelenskyy meeting possible but needs delegation agreements, Kremlin says. Russia’s top spokesman confirmed Moscow remains open to a Putin-Zelenskyy meeting but only after their negotiating teams reach preliminary agreements.

Record 81% of Europeans support common defense policy amid Ukraine war. Trust in the European Union has reached its highest point in 18 years. A poll shows that 59% of EU citizens support the purchase and supply of weapons for Ukraine.

Reuters: Russia demands written pledge to halt “NATO eastward expansion” and sanctions relief. Putin wants Ukraine’s neutrality, protection for Russian speakers, and guarantees against NATO membership for former Soviet republics, while Ukraine rejects all these demands.

Zelenskyy visits Germany as Taurus missile debate intensifies over Ukraine aid. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Berlin on 28 May as Germany’s new chancellor considers reversing his predecessor’s ban on Taurus missile deliveries.

Lithuania aid meant for Ukrainians went to citizens of other countries, including Russia and Belarusia. The European Social Fund Agency dismissed its director after an audit revealed that over $1,1 mn in Ukrainian refugee aid went to ineligible recipients.

Humanitarian and social impact

“Russia destroys future of Ukraine”: Russian missile strike killed three siblings aged 8, 12, 17. Hundreds of Ukrainians attended funeral services for the Martyniuk children, including 17-year-old Roman, 8-year-old Stanislav, and 12-year-old Tamara, whose parents survived the attack.

Political and legal developments

Russia builds power lines to restart and connect seized Ukrainian nuclear plant to its grid. The occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, captured by Russian forces in March 2022, would become the first nuclear facility seized by one nation during war and operated for another country’s energy needs if Moscow’s plans succeed.

Read our earlier daily review here.