The United States has sensitive nuclear technology at nuclear power plants in Ukraine and warned Russia not to mess with it, according to a letter from the U.S. Department of Energy to Russia’s state-run nuclear energy company Rosatom last month.
In a letter dated March 17, 2023, seen by CNN, Andrea Felkiel, director of the Department of Energy’s Office of Nonproliferation Policy, told Rosatom’s director general that the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Enerkhodar, Ukraine “contains U.S.-origin nuclear technology data that is subject to export controls by the U.S. government.”
Goods, software, and technology are subject to U.S. export controls if they could be used in a way that harms U.S. national security interests.
The Energy Department’s letter comes as the Russian military continues to take control of the plant. The plant is Europe’s largest nuclear power plant and is located in part of the Zaporizhzhia region, which Russia occupied after its invasion of Ukraine last February. The plant has been frequently disconnected from Ukraine’s power grid due to heavy Russian shelling of the region, raising fears of a nuclear disaster across Europe.
The factory is still physically run by Ukrainian staff, but is managed by Rosatom. In a letter, the Energy Department warned Rosatom that it is “illegal” for Russian nationals or entities to use U.S. technology.
CNN has reached out to Rosatom for comment.
It is not clear whether Rosatom has responded to the letter. The Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration issued a statement to CNN confirming the letter is genuine.
The letter was first reported by news agency RBC Ukraine.
“The Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration can confirm the authenticity of this letter,” said Shaela Hassan, deputy director of public affairs for the National Nuclear Security Administration.
He added: “The Secretary of Energy has legal responsibility for authorizing the transfer of unclassified civil nuclear technology and support for foreign nuclear activities. The Department of Energy does not comment on regulatory activities.”
Another letter from Mr. Fakire to the Energy Department inspector general, dated October 24, 2022 and seen by CNN, outlines the technology that the United States exported to Ukraine for use at the Zaporizhzhia plant and reiterates that the department “currently has no record of authorization to transfer this technology and technical data to any Russian national or entity.”
The Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy has announced support for the U.S. power plant. Listed on website in June 2021 In Ukraine, “the United States helped implement new maintenance procedures and operations for nuclear reactors that will ultimately enhance energy security,” he said.
Fix: The post incorrectly described the news outlet that first reported the letter. It was RBC Ukraine.