Monthly Highlights from the Russian Arctic, October 2024
In this news digest, we monitor events that impact the environment in the Russian Arctic. Our focus lies in identifying the factors that contribute to pollution and climate change.
News
Publish date: February 13, 2024
Written by: Bellona
News
It has been almost 2 years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and 30 years after Bellona published its first nuclear report on Russian nuclear issues. As the war in Ukraine grinds on Russia’s state nuclear energy corporation Rosatom has emerged as an important player in Russia’s war effort. On February 28th you will have the opportunity to watch the live english broadcast of the Bellonaforum in Oslo, where we will be discussing the following topics:
• How has the war affected the Russian nuclear industry? (We discuss trade, nuclear weapons and the seizure of Ukrainian nuclear power plants)
• What role does the Russian nuclear industry play internationally – and to what extent is it an instrument of the Kremlin? (We discuss markets, sanctions and the EU policy).
• Is there any progress in the work on nuclear clean-up in north-west Russia where the former military bases with spent nuclear fuel are located? (Bellona played an important role in raising awareness and securing funding for this issue. We talk about the termination of international cooperation and the current state of things).
We will present our analysis of the development, along with invited scientists, journalists and representatives of Norwegian authorities. You will have the opportunity to ask questions online during the broadcast.
To receive a reminder one hour before the broadcast that will start on 28 February from 11:00 to 13:00 (GMT+1) please sign up here.
11:00 – Frederic Hauge, The Bellona Foundation: Bellona’s Nuclear Russia work – before and after the invasion of Ukraine
11:20 – Alexander Nikitin, The Bellona Foundation: Strategic goals of Bellona’s nuclear project during the war. The «nuclear legacy» of the Arctic, today and in the future
11:50 – Thomas Nilsen, The Independent Barents Observer: Russia’s secret reactor-powered nuclear weapons program. Testing and deployment in the Arctic
12:05 – Dmitry Gorchakov, The Bellona Environmental Transparency Center: The activity of Rosatom in Ukraine and on the international stage during the war
12:20 – Ingar Amundsen, The Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority: Norways cooperation with Ukraine to address threats in wartimes
12:35 – Kacper Szulecki, The Norwegian Institute of International Affairs:Russian nuclear energy diplomacy before and after the invasion of Ukraine: the broader picture
13:00 – 13:30 – Panel discussion
Moderator: Oskar Njaa, The Bellona Foundation
In this news digest, we monitor events that impact the environment in the Russian Arctic. Our focus lies in identifying the factors that contribute to pollution and climate change.
A survey of events in the field of nuclear and radiation safety relating to Russia and Ukraine.
A visit last week by Vladimir Putin and a Kremlin entourage to Astana, Kazakhstan sought in part to put Rosatom, Russia’s state nuclear corporation, on good footing with local officials.
Russia is formally withdrawing from a landmark environmental agreement that channeled billions in international funding to secure the Soviet nuclear legacy, leaving undone some of the most radioactively dangerous projects and burning one more bridge of potential cooperation with the West.