Nuclear Security News and Member Updates Roundup, October 2023

Dear Friend,

Amid ongoing efforts by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to ensure compliance with safety and security principles at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, explosions near Ukraine’s Khmelnitsky nuclear power plant caused damage at the Khmelnitsky plant and prompted another warning by the IAEA of the extreme risks the war poses to the safety and security of the country’s nuclear power plants. Meanwhile, two new IAEA nuclear security resources are now available to states: a Nuclear Security Training and Demonstration Centre and a Regulatory Authority Information System (RAIS+). Read on to find out more.

Christina

Director, International Nuclear Security Forum

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Updates

• FUNDING APPEAL: If you appreciate this newsletter, please consider a donation to ensure sustainability into the future. Donate here and specify where indicated that your gift is intended to support the INSF. Institutional funding for civil society’s nuclear security work is increasingly hard to come by, as many readers already know, and the International Nuclear Security Forum appreciates your support!
• ICYMI: Catch up on Valeriia Hesse’s country update on Ukrainian nuclear security, titled “How Doing Justice to Ukraine Can Help Win the Battle for the Future of Nuclear Security.” Read the issue brief.
• ICYMI: Valeriia Hesse and Christina McAllister discussed the Ukrainian nuclear security country update on October 4, 2023, and answered questions about nuclear security during armed conflict, supporting resilience in Ukraine, and more. Watch the recording.

Nuclear Security News

Impact: The Russian Invasion of Ukraine

• IAEA Seeks Access to All Zaporizhzhia Turbine Halls on Same Day: “In the latest update on the situation at the six-reactor plant, which has been under Russian military control since February 2022, the IAEA says the request has yet to be approved ‘and the team can only confirm the status of one turbine hall at a time’. They are also ‘continuing to request access to the rooftops of reactor buildings 1, 2, 5 and 6, which they had expected to be granted this week’. IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said ‘we will insist until we get the access we need in order to monitor compliance’ with the five safety principles agreed at the United Nations earlier this year – which includes the plant not being used as storage or a base for heavy weapons. Meanwhile, the Russian operators of the plant have again moved unit 4 to so-called hot shutdown – where it can produce steam for various safety functions at the site – after completing repairs to a water leak detected in mid-August. Unit 6, which had been moved to hot shutdown while unit 4 was repaired, has now returned to cold shutdown.”
• Zelenskiy Pledged Not to Attack Nuclear Plant in Zaporizhzhia, Says IAEA Chief: “Rafael Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, says Volodymyr Zelenskiy has promised him that Ukraine will not attack Europe’s biggest nuclear plant as part of its counteroffensive against Russia. In an interview with the Guardian, the nuclear watchdog chief said he was most concerned about the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant becoming engulfed in fighting between the two sides, but insisted he had obtained a commitment from the Ukrainian president. ‘President Zelenskiy has personally assured me that they will not directly bomb or shell it,’ Grossi said, although he added that Zelenskiy had told him ‘all other options are on the table’ in terms of taking it back. That means Ukraine would comply with the first of the five new nuclear safety principles – ‘do not attack a nuclear power plant’ – initially outlined by Grossi at the UN security council at the end of May to avert ‘a catastrophic accident’.”
• Another Zaporizhzhia Unit to be Put Into Hot Shutdown: “The six-unit Zaporizhzhia plant – which has been under Russian military control since early March 2022 – has not supplied electricity to the grid since September 2022. Since April, it has kept five reactors in cold shutdown and just one – currently unit 4 – in hot shutdown to generate steam to process liquid radioactive waste and to heat water for Energodar, where most plant staff live. Ahead of the upcoming winter season, the plant started transferring unit 5 to hot shutdown last week after carrying out safety maintenance and testing at the unit. The IAEA said it was told that a decision regarding how long unit 5 will remain in hot shutdown would be made once Energodar’s heating systems have stabilized after the beginning of the heating season, which starts in the coming days. It has also been informed that there are no plans to transfer additional units to hot shutdown.”
• IAEA Warning After Explosions Heard Near Khmelnitsky: “International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) experts stationed at the plant in western Ukraine said air raid sirens sounded at 01:26 local time…followed by two loud explosions which they were later told were two drones being shot down 5 kilometers and 20 kilometers from the site. Although the site was not hit or have its operations affected, the IAEA reported that ‘shockwaves damaged the windows of several buildings at the site, including the passageway to the reactor buildings, an integrated auxiliary building, a special equipment building, the training center, as well as other facilities, the plant said. The seismic monitoring stations installed in the vicinity of Khmelnitsky nuclear power plant also recorded the seismic impacts of the blasts.’ A power outage temporarily forced two of the 11 off-site radiation monitoring stations to rely on back-up power supplies, while damage in the nearby town of Netishyn meant some staff had been forced to work from home. Grossi said: ‘Next time, we may not be so fortunate. Hitting a nuclear power plant must be avoided at all costs.’”
• Zelenskiy Says Russia Probably Targeted Nuclear Plant with Drones: “Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said a Russian drone attack…in the western Khmelnitskyi region had probably targeted the area’s nuclear power station. The attack shattered windows at the plant and injured 20 people. The International Atomic Energy Agency, the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog, said blasts from the drone attack did not affect the plant’s operations or its connection to the grid. Power was temporarily cut to some off-site radiation monitoring stations…‘It is most likely that the target for these drones was the Khmelnitskyi nuclear power station,’ [Zelenskiy] said…Regional governor Serhiy Tyurin gave a more complete picture of the extent of the damage, saying more than 1,700 buildings sustained damage.”

International Architecture

• Strengthening Nuclear Security Worldwide Through A/CPPNM and ICSANT: “The synergies between the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM) and its Amendment (A/CPPNM) and the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT) in strengthening nuclear security globally were discussed at a side event…during the 67th IAEA General Conference. The event was jointly organized by the IAEA and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) as part of their efforts in further promoting the universalization and effective implementation of the A/CPPNM and ICSANT…The CPPNM and A/CPPNM remain the only internationally legally binding undertakings in the area of physical protection of nuclear material and of nuclear facilities used for peaceful purposes. The CPPNM and its Amendment also require criminalization of certain offenses involving or directed at nuclear material and nuclear facilities, and provide for international cooperation related to physical protection and preventing and responding to criminal acts. The ICSANT complements the A/CPPNM in covering all radioactive material and establishing a foundation for the criminalization of further offenses involving nuclear as well as other radioactive material.”

Weapons, Materials, and Facilities

• Trump Allegedly Discussed US Nuclear Subs with Foreign National After Leaving White House: Sources: “Months after leaving the White House, former President Donald Trump allegedly discussed potentially sensitive information about U.S.  nuclear submarines with a member of his Mar-a-Lago Club – an Australian billionaire who then allegedly shared the information with scores of others, including more than a dozen foreign officials, several of his own employees, and a handful of journalists, according to sources familiar with the matter…Prosecutors and FBI agents have at least twice this year interviewed the Mar-a-Lago member, Anthony Pratt, who runs U.S.-based Pratt Industries, one of the world’s largest packaging companies. In those interviews, Pratt described how – looking to make conversation with Trump during a meeting at Mar-a-Lago in April 2021 – he brought up the American submarine fleet, which the two had discussed before, the sources told ABC News. According to Pratt’s account, as described by the sources, Pratt told Trump he believed Australia should start buying its submarines from the United States, to which an excited Trump – ‘leaning’ toward Pratt as if to be discreet – then told Pratt two pieces of information about U.S. submarines: the supposed exact number of nuclear warheads they routinely carry, and exactly how close they supposedly can get to a Russian submarine without being detected.”
• Bangladesh Gets First Uranium Shipment from Russia for Nuclear Power Plant: “Bangladesh has received the first Russian shipment of uranium fuel for its first nuclear power plant, making it the 33rd country in the world to produce nuclear energy. The South Asian country is building the first of two nuclear power plants in collaboration with Russian state-owned atomic company Rosatom. Ninety percent of the $12.65bn project is financed through a Russian loan repayable within 28 years with a 10-year grace period. ‘Today is a day of pride and joy for the people of Bangladesh,’ Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said…during a video conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin that the Russian Embassy in Bangladesh called a ‘nuclear fuel delivery ceremony’. Speaking with Hasina via a video link, Putin thanked the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for supervising the project, which resulted from a bilateral agreement in 2011. IAEA head Rafael Grossi posted his congratulations on social media. ‘Bangladesh stands as a success story for newcomer countries in nuclear power development, advancing its program under the [IAEA’s] guidance,’ he said.”

Security Culture

• IAEA Nuclear Security Centre Opens: “The IAEA has opened a unique nuclear security training and demonstration center, the first international facility of its type, supporting growing global efforts to tackle global nuclear terrorism. The IAEA Nuclear Security Training and Demonstration Centre contains specialized technical infrastructure and equipment, simulated environments, virtual reality tools and advanced software. It will offer 23 distinct courses to experts, including one for countries planning to expand their radiotherapy services under Rays Of Hope. The Centre provides hands-on practice on nuclear security systems for physical protection, information and computer security, nuclear forensics, major public events and more.”
• IAEA Concludes International Physical Protection Advisory Mission in the Netherlands: “The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has completed an International Physical Protection Advisory Service (IPPAS) mission in the Netherlands. This peer review mission aimed to assess the country’s nuclear security regime and provide recommendations to enhance its effectiveness. The thirteen-day mission was carried out at the request of the Government of the Netherlands and hosted by the Dutch Authority for Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection (ANVS). It is the fifth such mission in the Netherlands. The team reviewed the nuclear security regime for nuclear and other radioactive material and associated facilities and activities, including computer security. It also assessed the Netherlands’ implementation of the Convention on Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM) and its Amendment…The team observed that the Netherlands is committed to a high level of nuclear security and that it has further strengthened its nuclear security capabilities since the last IPPAS mission in 2012. The team provided recommendations and suggestions to support the Netherlands in further enhancing and sustaining nuclear security. Good practices were identified that can serve as examples to other IAEA Member States to help strengthen their nuclear security activities.”
• DHS Office that Counters Nuclear Weapons Could Close if Congress Doesn’t Act by December: “[…] The Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office at the Department of Homeland Security […] will close if not funded by December because of language put into the initial development of the office in 2018…‘This is a highly charged environment, and the threat environment is complex and it is complicated,’ Mary Ellen Callahan, the assistant secretary for countering weapons of mass destruction, told reporters at DHS headquarters…‘The CWMD office was created to have the subject matter expertise to be able to address a multitude of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats and to go and help support those who are the first responders, who are really the canaries in the coal mine, so to speak, and to help support the homeland.’”

Emerging Technologies

• Advancing Radiation Detection Instruments for Nuclear Security: “Innovative ideas on how artificial intelligence, machine learning, uncrewed aerial systems and other technologies can be used to enhance existing radiation detection capabilities for nuclear security are being explored by many countries around the world. During an IAEA technical meeting held from 14 to 18 August 2023, best practices, accomplishments, and challenges in the use of radiation detection equipment for nuclear security were shared by more than 150 experts from over 75 countries. The experts participated in active discussions on radiation detection tools, technologies, and techniques in a mix of plenary and smaller topical sessions, as well as smaller breakout working sessions. ‘The experience and expertise of the meeting participants ran the gamut from research to development and testing, and from frontline officers to senior decision makers,’ said Itimad Soufi, Head of the IAEA’s Nuclear Security of Materials Outside of Regulatory Control Section, adding that ‘this broad cross-section participation supported important discussions on the safety-security interface that will improve the use and sustainment of radiation detection equipment.’”
• Chi-Nu Experiment Concludes with Data to Support Nuclear Security, Energy Reactors: “The results of the Chi-Nu physics experiment at Los Alamos National Laboratory have contributed essential, never-before-observed data for enhancing nuclear security applications, understanding criticality safety and designing fast-neutron energy reactors. The Chi-Nu project, a years-long experiment measuring the energy spectrum of neutrons emitted from neutron-induced fission, recently concluded the most detailed and extensive uncertainty analysis of the three major actinide elements — uranium-238, uranium-235 and plutonium-239…The Los Alamos team’s final Chi-Nu study, on the isotope uranium-238, was recently published in Physical Review C. The experiment measured uranium-238’s prompt fission neutron spectrum: the energy of the neutron inducing the fission — the neutron that crashes into a nucleus and splits it — and the potentially wide-ranging energy distribution (the spectrum) of the neutrons released as a result. Chi-Nu focuses on “fast-neutron-induced” fission, with incident neutron energies in millions of electron volts, where there have typically been very few measurements.”
• New Regulatory Authority Information System (RAIS+) Now Available: “The IAEA has released a new state-of-the-art Regulatory Authority Information System (RAIS+) to assist countries in their core regulatory functions to manage radioactive sources. RAIS+ was presented in the margins of the 67th IAEA General Conference last month. It will support regulators to establish and maintain a national register of sources and other safety and security records, across a range of nuclear science and technology applications in industry, medicine, research, agriculture and education…RAIS+ is highly customizable and can be adapted to each country’s legal and regulatory frameworks and administrative structures, while supporting a consistent and harmonized international approach to the regulatory control of radiation sources. It offers many tools to search, organize and report regulatory data, and users need only basic technical skills to create digital workflow processes for notification, authorization, inspection and enforcement and other regulatory activities.”

Member Organization Announcements and Updates

Black Sea Women in Nuclear Network

• In partnership with the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies, the Black Sea Women in Nuclear Network published an article titled “Lessons in Building Professional Networks During Times of Crisis and their Impact on Nuclear Security Culture: The Case of the Black Sea Women in Nuclear Network” in the International Journal of Nuclear Security and Nuclear Security Women Special Issue: Women in Nuclear Security on October 23, 2023. The authors included: Margarita Kalinina-Pohl, James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies, Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, Zenobia S. Homan, King’s College London, Olga Martin, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Nataliia Klos, Black Sea Women in Nuclear Network, Adeline du Crest, Middlebury Institute of International Studies, Ina Grigalashvili, Agency of Nuclear and Radiation Safety, Georgia, Mădălina Ștefanic, National Society “Nuclearelectrica” Cernavoda NPP Branch, Romania, and Şebnem Udum, Hacettepe University. Read the piece Read more here.

The Stimson Center

• Sneha Nair, Christina McAllister, Annina Pluff, and Katherine C. Mack published “Gender Undone: Confronting Bias in the Nuclear Field” in the International Journal of Nuclear Security and Nuclear Security Women Special Issue: Women in Nuclear Security on October 14, 2023. Read more here.
• Sneha Nair attended the Wilton Park conference, ‘Maximising benefits of peaceful nuclear uses: aligning nuclear security and development priorities’ from October 16-18, 2023, where she chaired a panel session on “Policy Impacts on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.”

Institute for Science and Technology

• On October 11, the Institute for Security and Technology announced the creation of the Crisis Communications Resilience Working Group, a new effort to augment nuclear risk reduction efforts and promote effective, secure, multilateral crisis communications among nuclear-armed states. The WG, chaired by IST’s Sylvia Mishra and Philip Reiner, consists of scholars, academics, practitioners, and technical experts from across Europe, Asia, and North America. Read more here.

International Institute for Strategic Studies

• On October 13, 2023, the IISS hosted a report launch for a new research paper titled “Missiles, deterrence and arms control: Options for a new era in Europe.” The panellists, Camille Gerand, Douglas Barrie, and Zuzanna Gwadera, considered the main debates in the development of new options for NATO nuclear and conventional deterrence, recent and planned offensive and defensive missile procurements, the challenges that Europe’s defence industry faces in fulfilling these, and the prospects for arms control. Read more here.
• Timothy Wright authored an article titled “Russia claims to have tested nuclear-powered cruise missile” on October 13, 2023. The article covered the reportedly successful test of Burevestnik that came after multiple full or partial failures. Read more here.
• Timothy Wright authored an article titled “Challenges to multilateral arms control” on October 6, 2023. The article discussed the prospects for achieving new bilateral arms-control agreements between Russia and the United States and securing less-ambitious agreements that include other signatories. Read more here.
• William Alberque, Douglas Barrie, Zuzanna Gwadera and Timothy Wright authored a paper titled “Russia’s War in Ukraine: Ballistic and Cruise Trajectories” on October 5, 2023. Read more here.

James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies, Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey

• William Potter authored an article titled “Behind the Scenes: How Not to Negotiate an Enhanced NPT Review Process,” in the Arms Control Today October 2023 issue. Read more here.
• Hanna Notte authored an article titled “Russia’s Axis of the Sanctioned” in Foreign Affairs on October 6, 2023. Read more here.

Nuclear Proliferation Prevention Project, University of Texas

• Alan Kuperman published an article titled “U.S. Plan to Put Weapons-Grade Uranium in a Civilian Reactor Is Dangerous and Unnecessary” in Scientific American on October 20, 2023. It covers the Biden Administration’s plan to violate longstanding U.S. nuclear nonproliferation policy by building the first U.S. research reactor fueled with weapons-grade, highly enriched uranium since the 1970s. Read more here.

Nuclear Transport Solutions

• NTS hosted a further U.S. visit to the UK in its series of USA-UK nuclear security technical exchanges in partnership with NNSA. The event brought together US national lab experts with security practitioners in the UK to exchange views on key challenges and priorities, and identify opportunities for further collaboration. The U.S. team visited UK government and regulator counterparts, King’s College London, and the British Transport Police’s counter-drones unit in London, and undertook nuclear site visits at Sizewell B nuclear power plant and Nuclear Waste Services’ hub at Harwell, Oxfordshire.
• NTS attended the Wilton Park conference on ‘Maximising benefits of peaceful nuclear uses: aligning nuclear security and development priorities’ in October. Alex Barrow participated and spoke on an industry panel regarding the role of industry in promoting and enhancing public confidence in peaceful nuclear technologies, and the important role of nuclear security. Read more here.

Odesa Center for Nonproliferation

• Ali Alkis co-authored a chapter titled “The Impact of Russia’s War against Ukraine on Finland and Sweden’s Decision to Join NATO: Effects on the Global Nuclear Order” as a part of the Contributions to Political Science book series (CPS). Read more here.
• Ali Alkis was interviewed by the UC Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation about his article titled “Lessons from Zaporizhzhia: How to protect reactors against ‘nuclear piracy’.” Read more here.
• Ali Alkis co-authored an article titled “Nuclear Security: Making Gender Equality a Working Reality” in the International Journal of Nuclear Security and Nuclear Security Women Special Issue: Women in Nuclear Security. Read more here.
• Ali Alkis participated in Wilton Park’s event “Maximising benefits of peaceful nuclear uses: aligning nuclear security and development priorities” from 16-18 October 2023. Alkis gave a speech during the session on engaging the next generation in peaceful nuclear uses. Read more here.

Vienna Center for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation

• The VCDNP held its 26th intensive course on nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament for diplomats and practitioners from 2 to 6 October 2023. During the week-long course, the participants explored a wide range of nuclear topics, including, inter alia, global and regional aspects of the nuclear non-proliferation regime, arms control and disarmament, nuclear safeguards and nuclear security. Read more here.
• The VCDNP hosted a panel discussion on the outcomes of the first Preparatory Committee meeting of the 11th NPT Review Conference and the Working Group on further strengthening the NPT review process. Read more here.
• The VCDNP hosted a panel discussion to discuss key findings of the 2023 NTI Nuclear Threat Index, which warned against neglecting nuclear security in a rapidly changing risk environment. Read more here.
• VCDNP Senior Fellow Dr. Nikolai Sokov and VCDNP Senior Research Associate Federica Dall’Arche contribute two chapters to the new book Russia’s War on Ukraine: The Implications for the Global Nuclear Order, published by Springer. Read more here.
• VCDNP Research Associate Louis Reitmann recommended ways for the UK to strengthen its leadership for nuclear risk reduction and disarmament at the 2023 UK PONI Annual Conference. Read more here.
• Senior Research Associate Noah Mayhew commented on how the AUKUS partnership was addressed at the 2023 NPT PrepCom and how it may be seen at the 2023 IAEA General Conference. Read more here.
• The VCDNP and IAI, as part of the Young Women and Next Generation Initiative (YWNGI), launched the 3rd edition of the Young Women in Non-Proliferation and Disarmament (YWNPD) Mentorship Programme. Read more here.
• Senior Research Associate Ingrid Kirsten organized a Wilton Park conference, ‘Maximising benefits of peaceful nuclear uses: aligning nuclear security and development priorities’ from October 16-18, 2023, in partnership with the National Nuclear Security Administration.

World Institute for Nuclear Security

• Viviana Moreno took part in a panel on “Policy Impacts on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” at the Wilton Park conference, ‘Maximising benefits of peaceful nuclear uses: aligning nuclear security and development priorities’ on October 17, 2023.

Individual Member Updates

• Artem Lazarev from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) shared that:
  • Since 2018, UNODC has been working with the Government of Zimbabwe to promote and facilitate the country’s adherence to the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT). On 28 September 2023, Zimbabwe deposited its instrument of accession to ICSANT and will soon become 122nd party to this Convention. Read more here.
  • On 28 September, UNODC, in cooperation with the IAEA, held a side event during the 67th IAEA General Conference. The event discussed the synergies between ICSANT and the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and its Amendment in strengthening nuclear security globally. Read more here.
  • On 6 October, UNODC conducted an online workshop, the second in the series funded by the European Union, targeting French-speaking African countries not party to ICSANT. Opened by Ms. Marjoljn van Deelen, Special Envoy for Disarmament and Non-proliferation of the EU’s External Action Service, the event brought together over 100 senior policy and decision makers from the region. Read more here.
• Nse-Abasi Ayara attended a National Consultative Meeting on Strengthening the Implementation of UNSCR 1540 in Nigeria from 16-18 October 2023. The event was organized by the UNODA in concert with stakeholders in Nigeria and exposed participants to topics relevant to Resolution 1540 and its complementarity with other multilateral instruments such as the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC).
• Trevor Findlay wrote an op-ed, “Shoring up the Nuclear Nonproliferation and Disarmament Regime is Imperative” for the October 13 edition of the Korea Times and the website of the Asia-Pacific Leadership Network. He also produced a research paper for Microsoft on “The International Atomic Energy Agency as Exemplar for Governing Artificial Intelligence” in preparation for the AI Safety Summit to be held from 1-2 November in the UK. He will present the paper at a workshop in Seattle on 20 November. Read more here.
• Bahram Ghiassee will be giving a talk titled “The Efficacy of International Law in Protecting the Environment and Ecological Systems Against Radioactivity” at Imperial College London, Center for Environmental Policy, on November 9, 2023.

Opportunities

• The Partnership for Global Security (PGS) is seeking candidates for the Della Ratta Global Energy and Security Fellowship for early career individuals. The Fellow will conduct policy research on issues at the intersection of nuclear energy and commerce, climate change, and global security. Learn more.
• ReThink Media is looking to hire either a Communications Associate or Senior Communications Associate for their Peace & Security Team. The Communications Associate will primarily work on our nuclear portfolio, supporting organizations and coalitions in advancing arms control and disarmament through tactics such as media pitching, op-ed editing, messaging guidance, and media strategy. Learn more.
• The Black Sea Women in Nuclear Network has started a mentorship program for college students, young professionals, and middle career experts. Learn more.