Nuclear Security News and Member Updates, September 2022

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

September usually brings balmy weather to Washington, DC, the opening session of the UN General Assembly to New York, and the IAEA General Conference to Vienna. This year, the illegal occupation of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and thinly veiled Russian threats to use nuclear weapons have pushed themselves near the top of the political agenda in all three cities. These events have overshadowed two other major challenges for nuclear community this month, with the DPRK codifying the irreversibility of itself as a nuclear weapons state and talks with Iran having reached an impasse. It also saw the passing of Mikhail Gorbachev, who helped end the Cold War and forged new paths toward nuclear disarmament.

Bleak? Yes, but not without hope. The month started with Director General Grossi and an IAEA team visiting the Zaporizhzhia facility (and establishing a permanent presence at the facility), with DG Grossi later beginning talks on creating a demilitarized zone around power plant. The General Conference has seen more discussion on issues important to the INSF, such as encouraging and listening to more diverse voices in our field (helped in part by the good efforts of several INSF members). Russia proclaimed itself open to resuming physical inspections under the New Start Treaty. Perhaps most important, the terrible events in Ukraine have made clearer the importance of nuclear security for us all.  

Hope, Endurance, and Courage,

Richard Cupitt & Sneha Nair

Director, International Nuclear Security Forum

Join the conversation on Twitter: @INS_Forum

Updates

• The INSF took part in the Gender Champions in Nuclear Policy Focal Point Retreat from September 20-21, 2022, where nuclear stakeholders came together to share best practices and exchange experiences on diversity, equity, and inclusion in the field.
• The INSF welcomes its newest Advisory Board Member:
  • Margarita Kalinina-Pohl, Founder, Black Sea Women in Nuclear (BSWN) network. In addition to her work with the BSWN, Margarita is a Senior Program Manager at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies. She is a renowned expert in a range of areas, including radiological security challenges in Central Asia, and other general issues related to nuclear security and nonproliferation. She has authored a variety of papers, is a sought-after speaker for events, and has been on a number of panels as an expert in nuclear and radiological security.
• The INSF also welcomes its newest member organizations:
  • University of National and World Economy, Sofia
• The INSF call for proposals for the Nuclear Security Policy Menu series is still open. Find application details here.

Nuclear Security News

Impact: The Invasion of Ukraine

• U.N. Inspectors call for Security Zone Around Nuclear Plant: “Shelling at a nuclear plant in Ukraine has “gravely concerned” international monitors who believe a security protection zone should be established immediately, the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog agency said in a report on Tuesday after inspectors visited the embattled Zaporizhzhia facility.”
• IAEA warns of threats to Ukraine’s nuclear plant: “The risk of a nuclear accident at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya power plant is growing, according to a new report by the International Atomic Energy Agency. The report describes damage to the special building that houses fresh nuclear fuel and the solid radioactive waste storage facility.”
• Ukraine Warns of ‘Nuclear Terrorism’ After Strike Near Plant: “A Russian missile blasted a crater close to a nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine on Monday, damaging nearby industrial equipment but not hitting its three reactors. The missile struck within 300 meters (328 yards) of the reactors at the South Ukraine Nuclear Power Plant near the city of Yuzhnoukrainsk in Mykolaiv province, leaving a hole 2 meters (6 1/2 feet) deep and 4 meters (13 feet) wide, according to Ukrainian nuclear operator Energoatom.”
• Ukraine Says Russian Shelling Disconnects Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant From Grid: “Ukraine’s energy operator said on Monday that a fire caused by Russian shelling had severed a power-transmission line and effectively disconnected the Zaporizhzhia nuclear-power plant from Ukraine’s electricity grid.”
• IAEA head ignores gunfire to visit Ukraine nuclear plant, says experts to stay: “The head of the U.N.’s atomic watchdog, ignoring gunfire he said had come uncomfortably close, visited the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in Ukraine on Thursday and said his experts would stay at the facility…Both Russia and Ukraine say they fear a potential radiation disaster as a result of shelling that the two sides blame on each other.”
• Why Russia Denied IAEA Entry to Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant: “Russian forces are reportedly delaying international nuclear safety officials from entering the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine…Vladimir Rogov, a Russian appointed regional official for Zaporizhzhia, wrote on Telegram [that] the IAEA team ‘will stand in line’ in order to enter the area and ‘will not be given special passes’ because the team are attempting to enter the plant from Ukranian rather than Russian territory.”
• What inspectors will look for at Ukraine’s war-damaged Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant: “Inspectors for the International Atomic Energy Agency have been to some of the world’s most sensitive nuclear facilities — from North Korean reactors to Iranian uranium plants. But it all seems straightforward compared to what awaits them at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station in southern Ukraine…The IAEA has been to Zaporizhzhia many times before on these routine missions, says Kevin Veal, the head of international nuclear safeguards at the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration. ‘The agency has had a really good handle on activity at the facility for well over two decades,’ he says referring to the IAEA. This inspection is far from routine, however. The inspectors’ visit was delayed for months, until the latest fighting around the plant put an enormous diplomatic pressure on Russia.”
• UN inspectors finally reach Ukraine nuclear plant after shelling and emergency shutdown of reactor: “The International Atomic Energy Agency’s mission has arrived at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant after a delay lasting several hours due to shelling around Enerhodar, where the plant is located. Ahead of the visit, IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said the mission was aware of ‘increased military activity in the area’ but was determined to press ahead with its plan to visit the facility and meet personnel there.”
• Russia requests ‘explanations’ from IAEA on Zaporizhzhia report: “Russia has requested ‘additional explanations’ from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on parts of its report on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was quoted as saying on Wednesday.”
• How important is Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant for Ukraine: “Zaporizhzhia produces almost half of the electricity generated by Ukraine’s nuclear power plants. Can the Ukrainian energy system function without it?…Russian troops have been using it as a depot for weapons and military equipment, according to Energoatom’s website. ‘The Russian military is shelling the nuclear power plant to destroy its infrastructure and disconnect it from Ukraine’s energy system.’ The company stresses the threat to the safety of the plant and surrounding towns. All the while Moscow blames Ukraine for the shelling, claiming Russian troops are ‘protecting’ the nuclear plant.”

International Architecture

• The Week Ahead: IAEA Hosts Annual General Conference: “During the week, delegates will discuss a range of topics, from the 2021 Annual Report and the 2023 budget to strengthening activities related to nuclear science, technology and applications, as well as the Agency’s nuclear safety and security activities and strengthening the effectiveness and improving the efficiency of Agency safeguards. They will also discuss specifically nuclear safety, security and safeguards in Ukraine and safeguards in the Middle East and in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.”
• Nuclear Safety and Security Side Events at the 66^th IAEA General Conference: “The IAEA Department of Nuclear Safety and Security will host 14 side events, including five ESPACE events and two tours, during the 66th IAEA General Conference, to be held in Vienna from 26 – 30 September 2022.”
• North Korea declares itself a nuclear weapons state: “North Korean leader Kim Jong Un stressed his country will never abandon the nuclear weapons it needs to counter the United States, which he accused of pushing to weaken the North’s defenses and eventually collapse his government, state media said Friday. Kim made the comments during a speech Thursday at North Korea’s rubber-stamp parliament, where members passed legislation governing the use of nuclear weapons, which Kim described as a step to cement the country’s nuclear status and make clear such weapons will not be bargained.”
• Joint Statement on the High-Level Meeting on the Safety and Security of Civil Nuclear Facilities in Armed Conflicts: “We, the ministers of Foreign Affairs of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, Ukraine and the United States of America, and senior officials from the Republic of Korea and Switzerland, as well as the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, wish to express our grave concern regarding the threats posed to the safety and security of nuclear facilities devoted to peaceful purposes in Ukraine and their personnel, significantly raising the risk of a nuclear accident.”
• Mikhail Gorbachev, Soviet Leader Who Ended Cold War, Dies at 91: “Mikhail Gorbachev, the leader of the Soviet Union whose attempts to shake up his country’s political and economic system led to the collapse of the Communist superpower and the end of the Cold War, has died. He was 91.”

Weapons, Materials, and Facilities

• Secretly sent weapons-grade plutonium removed from Nevada: “Weapons-grade plutonium that secretly was sent to Nevada over objections from the state has been removed ahead of schedule, federal officials said… Nevada had argued in a lawsuit that the clandestine shipment of half a metric ton (1,100 pounds) of plutonium to the vast Nevada National Security Site — an area larger than the state of Rhode Island — in 2018 amounted to a “secret plutonium smuggling operation.” The U.S. government argued it kept the shipment secret because of national security concerns.”

Threats

• The Security Implications of the Pakistan Floods: “The tragedy unfolding in Pakistan in the wake of unprecedented flooding late last month, which has inundated a third of the country and displaced millions of people, is not only a humanitarian catastrophe but also poses significant security threats. Already before the floods, South Asia experienced record breaking heat waves in April and May, leading to unbearable living conditions, widespread energy blackouts, and rapid glacial melt. These climate hazards will compound existing challenges in the country, including political instability, Islamic extremism, and nuclear security.”
• U.S. Has Sent Private Warnings to Russia Against Using a Nuclear Weapon: “The Biden administration has been sending messages to Moscow about the grave consequences that would follow the use of a nuclear weapon in Ukraine… The Biden administration generally has decided to keep warnings about the consequences of a nuclear strike deliberately vague, so the Kremlin worries about how Washington might respond, the officials said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to describe sensitive deliberations.”
• Student arrested, accused of making nuclear threat unless Utes won: “A University of Utah student was arrested Wednesday after police say she threatened to detonate a nuclear reactor if the Utes football team didn’t win on Saturday. The 21-year-old woman was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail for investigation of making a threat of terrorism… Police noted that the student does have knowledge of the nuclear reactor and ‘is aware of where the reactor is located and attends class in the same building where the reactor is housed.’”
• How likely is the use of nuclear weapons by Russia?: “On 21 February, as part of his televised speech that heralded the Russian invasion of Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin issued what was interpreted as a threat to use nuclear weapons against NATO countries should they interfere in Ukraine. ‘Russia will respond immediately’ he said, ‘and the consequences will be such as you have never seen in your entire history… In addition, Putin made further – and stronger – nuclear threats and seemed to stretch Russian nuclear doctrine from nuclear weapons use being only in the event of an existential threat to instead a threat to territorial integrity – this is particularly worrying given that territory looks set to change and it is contested by Ukraine.”

Security Culture

• Material on foreign nations nuclear capabilities seized at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago: “A document describing a foreign government’s military defenses, including its nuclear capabilities, was found by FBI agents who searched former president Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence and private club last month, according to people familiar with the matter, underscoring concerns among U.S. intelligence officials about classified material stashed in the Florida property.”

Material Minimization

• Weapons-Grade Plutonium Secretly Sent to Nevada Removed: “Weapons-grade plutonium that secretly was sent to Nevada over objections from the state has been removed ahead of schedule, federal officials said. U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto said in a statement that she was notified by the National Nuclear Security Administration late Friday that the plutonium had been removed. The work that started last year had been expected to wrap up by the end of 2026.”

Opinion

• Nuclear Weapons Are an Ever-Present Danger — and Grant Makers Need to Pay Attention: “Nuclear weapons rank alongside climate change and pandemics as existential threats to life as we know it. And yet, nuclear-risk reduction is one of the most underfunded areas of philanthropy. Less than 1 percent of last year’s peace and security funding went toward nuclear issues, according to data from the Peace and Security Funding Map.”

Member Organization Announcements and Updates

Global Nuclear Security Partners

• Global Nuclear Security Partners is now a partner of the Science & Technology Centre in Ukraine. The partnership will work on important nuclear projects and advancing technical innovation. Read more.

The Stimson Center

• The Partnerships in Proliferation Prevention program hosted The James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies’ 2022 Black Sea Nonproliferation Professional Exchange candidates at the Stimson Center on September 13, 2022 for a presentation and open discussion about CBRN security and nonproliferation assistance efforts in the region and beyond.
• Olli Heinonen was interviewed for The World to discuss the IAEA inspection in Ukraine and the threat the conflict poses to the Zaprorizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine. Learn more.

James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS)

• CNS hosted the 2022 US-Black Sea Nonproliferation Professional Exchange initiative,  supported by the International Security and Nonproliferation Bureau of the U.S. State Department. Nonproliferation professionals in the WMD community including scholars/researchers and diplomats/practitioners took part in a ten-day ‘U.S. module’ which included visits to the Los Alamos National Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratory, the State Department, Department of Energy, and meeting with leading think tanks and civil society in Washington, D.C.

Managing the Atom (MTA)

• MTA’s Mariana Budjeryn hosted the latest webinar in the Atomic Voices Series, “Beyond the Nuclear Canon: Teaching the Bomb in the 21^st Century,” on September 23, 2022. The event discussed recent innovation and the need for diversity in teaching about nuclear issues writ large. Read more.
• MTA welcomed its new class of Fellows for the 2022-2023 academic year. Meet the Fellows.

National Academies of Sciences

• The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine is undertaking a study to provide an independent review of the potential environmental effects and socio-economic consequences that could unfold in the weeks-to-decades following nuclear wars. Nominations for the study are due October 16, 2022. Learn more.

Nuclear Transport Solutions (NTS)

• From August 23-26, 2022, NTS security experts presented on the topic of transport security of Class 7 materials in Johannesburg. The event was organized and hosted by the US National Nuclear Security Administration in conjunction with the Government of South Africa. Specific topics included current challenges in transport security, transport risk management, roles and responsibilities, insider threat mitigation, cyber security, and operational application of good practices. Learn more.
• NTS has been granted membership of the IAEA’s International Nuclear Security Education Network (INSEN), which recognized NTS’s growing experience and involvement in the provision of nuclear security training across Class 7 dangerous goods transportation, nuclear security culture, and other security and resilience disciplines.
• As part of the UK Project on Nuclear Issues (PONI) UK-US exchange program, NTS hosted a visit to their specialized nuclear shipping terminal at Barrow-in-Furness in September. Exchange participants from US and UK governments and defense and research organizations working on nuclear issues visited the terminal to understand more about NTS’ mission and security capabilities, and toured a purpose-built vessel for transporting nuclear materials. Learn More.
• NTS transport experts contributed to an IAEA Technical Meeting on Back End of the Fuel Cycle Considerations for Small Modular Reactors from September 20-23, 2022. NTS experts presented on the necessary transport security considerations for future SMR fuel cycle scenarios and transportable reactors, and offered insights based on decades of experience in supporting the UK’s waste management and decommissioning operations. Event information.

Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI)

• NTI hosted the 2022 Gender Champions in Nuclear Policy Focal Point meeting in Leesburg, Virginia from September 20-21, 2022, with support from the Stanley Center for Peace and Security and the Ploughshares Fund. Learn more.
• NTI experts Scott Roecker and Nickolas Roth attended the 66^th IAEA General Conference in Vienna, Austria from September 26-30, 2022.

Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)

• SIPRI will host the “WMD Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Pathways: an intensive introductory course for graduate and post-graduate students of engineering disciplines,” which will take place from December 6-8, 2022 in Stockholm, Sweden. Learn more.

University of Melbourne

• Trevor Findlay published an editorial, “Rethink Nuclear Subs Proposals” in the Canberra Times, September 17, 2022. Read the piece.

University of Texas, Austin; Nuclear Proliferation Prevention Project

• Alan J. Kuperman spoke on the Rules Based Audio podcast at the Lowy Institute, “AUKUS — Are Australian Nuclear Submarines a Dangerous Precedent?” discussing Australia’s plans to acquire nuclear powered submarines and what that means for nuclear non-proliferation. Listen to the podcast.

Vienna Center for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation (VCDNP)

• VCDNP and the International Affairs Institute (IAI), as part of the Young Women and Next Generation Initiative (YWNGI), launched the 2nd edition of Young Women in Non-Proliferation and Disarmament (YWNPD) Mentorship Programme on September 19, 2022. Read more.
• Hanna Notte, a senior research associate with the VCDNP published a piece in Foreign Policy entitled “How Ukraine Has Changed Russian Diplomacy” on September 16, 2022. Her analysis argues that Russia’s pursuit of alternative diplomatic avenues has taken on new urgency since its invasion of Ukraine in February. Read the piece.
• Louis Reitmann joined a panel on Europe’s role in the NPT’s future with the Dean of the Paris School of International Affairs and former Stockholm Initiative Co-Chair Arancha González Laya, where he shared ideas on how the EU and its Member States could help revitalize the Treaty at the European Forum Alpbach. Learn more.
• VCDNP Non-Resident Senior Fellow John Carlson wrote a new article discussing the prohibition of military attacks on nuclear facilities on September 12, 2022. Read more.
• Gaukhar Mukhatzhanova was the guest on a recent episode of the Ploughshares Fund’s podcast, “Press the Button,” where she shared views on the tenth NPT Review Conference. Listen to this episode.
• VCDNP will hold a panel discussion to reflect on the key debates and takeaways from the Tenth NPT Review Conference on October 4, 2022. Senior Vienna-based diplomates will share their perspectives on the Review Conference debates and answer questions from the audience. Register today.

Individual Member Updates

• The global launch of the World Nuclear Industry Status Report 2022 will take place in a hybrid event in Berlin on October 5, 2022. The annual WNISR provides a comprehensive overview of nuclear power plant data, including information on operation, production, construction, and decommissioning. Register today.
• Artem Lazarev from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) shared that the UNODC published the Portuguese version of the manual on fictional cases related to offenses under ICSANT (which is focused on Article 2 of the Convention), the ICSANT factsheet and the leaflet on ICSANT criminalization requirements and other relevant provisions. These materials were prepared thanks to the European Union financial support. Read more.
• Ali Alkis was appointed as the Gender Champion at the Odesa Center for Nonproliferation (OdCNP). OdCNP focuses on non-proliferation, nuclear security, and arms control. Read more.
• David Kenneth Smith will be speaking on “Three Decades of Nuclear Forensics: Adapting to Security Challenges and Change,” at the upcoming 2022 NuFor – Nuclear Forensics Conference, October 11-13, 2022. The conference is hosted by Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) and the UK’s National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL) in London. Learn more.

Opportunities

• The Stimson Center is hiring a Junior Fellow for a year-long research role supporting a project that aims to research, analyze, and inform policymakers and governments about the evolving diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) challenges facing nuclear security practitioners. Learn more about pay, benefits, and the role.
• CRDF Global is hiring for a range of positions dealing with CBRN security. View the vacancies.
• Inkstick Media and Bombshelltoe Policy x Arts Collective will offer a virtual eight-month residency for journalists, artists, and international security experts based in the United States, where participants will be encouraged to cultivate and share their work beyond traditional frameworks so that they can experiment with new modes of storytelling, take provocative risks, and imagine a radical workspace that welcomes the interweaving of policy, research, and creativity. To kick off the inaugural class, this residency will accept up to three participants whose final work product will focus on nuclear security issues. Submit your application.
• The National Nuclear Security Administration’s Graduate Fellowship Program applications are open until October 7, 2022. Learn more. 
• Applications are open for the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellowship Programme which provides scholarships to motivated female students pursuing a Masters’ program and aims to help increase the number of women in the nuclear field, supporting an inclusive workforce of both men and women who contribute to and drive global scientific and technological innovation. Learn more.
• The International Journal for Nuclear Security (IJNS) has put out a call for papers for a Special Issue on Women in Nuclear Security that aims to amplify the perspectives and accomplishments of women and gender-diverse individuals in the field. Abstracts are due November 1, 2022, and the full paper is due March 1, 2023. Submit your paper.