Dear Friend,
The United States continues to push resources into advanced nuclear technology and rebuilding domestic nuclear fuel supply, with two new contracts awarded under the Nuclear Reactor Pilot Program, $2.7 billion awarded to three separate companies to expand domestic uranium enrichment capacity, and the first high-assay low enriched uranium (HALEU) feedstock delivered to a company for fabrication into specialized reactor fuel in January. The hope is to strengthen energy security, reclaim U.S. leadership in an important energy sector, and reduce reliance on nuclear fuel supplies from Russia, whose forces seized Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant early in the 2022 invasion. The Zaporizhzhya plant has been turned over to Russian management and remains in a precarious condition on the frontline of the conflict – the International Atomic Energy Agency has monitoring teams posted at Zaporizhzhya and Ukraine’s other nuclear power plants amid the ongoing hostilities. Amid these and other headlines, the daily work this community continues to do promoting and strengthening nuclear security policies and practices is critical.
Wishing everyone a productive month ahead.
Warmly,
Christina
Director, International Nuclear Security Forum
Join the conversation on X: @INS_Forum
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Updates
Please save the date Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at 17:00 (GMT+2) /10:00 (EST) for a special webinar, “Nuclear Energy and Security in the Middle East: Regional Perspectives, Emerging Challenges and Capacity Building,” hosted jointly by the INSF and the Arab Women Network in Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Security (AWN-CBRNS). Details to follow on the INSF list serv.
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Nuclear Security News
Impact: The Russian Invasion of Ukraine
ANANDOLU
21 January 2026
Ukraine says it restored power supply to Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant
Ukraine said that it restored power supply to the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant after the IAEA said it lost all off-site power following “widespread military activity”.
IAEA
22 January 2026
Update 338 – IAEA General Director Statement on Situation in Ukraine
Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant was reconnected to its sole backup power line for the first time since January 2 after repairs were completed.
BBC
23 January 2026
Ukraine is Battling to Keep the Lights on, This Nuclear Plant is Vital in the Fight
Ukraine is facing an acute energy crisis after months of relentless Russian attacks on its infrastructure.
Weapons, Materials, and Facilities
THE GUARDIAN
Japan Pauses Restart of World’s Largest Nuclear Power Plant One Day After it Went Online
The Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant had been closed since the 2011 Fukushima disaster. The Tokyo Electric Power Company said that an alarm sounded during the reactor startup process, causing it to suspend operations.
BUSINESS INSIDER
The US Military’s Drone-Defense Confusion is Leaving its Bases Vulnerable, Pentagon Watchdog Finds
A Pentagon watchdog report warns that gaps in Pentagon policy are leaving some US military bases vulnerable to drone threats.
Security Culture
TAIPEI TIMES
Radioactive Zinc ‘Safe’ in Philippines: Official
More than 20 containers of radioactive zinc stranded in Manila Bay for months have been brought ashore to a “safe place,” the country’s nuclear research director said yesterday.
International Architecture
EUROMAIDEN
The Trump administration ordered the US withdrawal from the Science and Technology Center in Ukraine, an intergovernmental body that prevents WMD experts from selling their knowledge to hostile regimes and terrorist networks.
Emerging Technologies
INTERESTING ENGINEERING
Illegal nuclear material’s origin could be traced in just 30 mins with new trick
A new method developed by researchers at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) can spot the origins of illegal nuclear material in just 30 minutes with only a simple instrument such as a mass spectrometer.
Threats
FRANCE 24
North produces enough nuclear material a year for 10-20 weapons: S. Korea president
North Korea is producing enough nuclear material a year for up to 20 weapons, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said.
Advanced Reactors
NUCLEAR NEWSWIRE
DOE Awards $2.7B for HALEU and LEU Enrichment
The Department of Energy has awarded three task orders totaling $2.7 billion to three companies aimed at expanding domestic uranium enrichment capacity. Two companies will develop HALEU enrichment capacity, the other will build LEU capacity.
NUCLEAR NEWSWIRE
DOE signs two more OTAs in Reactor Pilot Program
The Department of Energy has finalized two new transaction agreements with participating companies in its Reactor Pilot Program, which aims to get a fast-tracked reactors online by July 4 of this year.
E&E NEWS
Takeaways from the House’s big nuclear hearing
A House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing shed light on Democrats’ willingness to work on new legislation and whether the Trump administration can realistically meet its ambitious reactor deployment goals.
INTERESTING ENGINEERING
US advanced reactor fuel cuts reliance on Russia with first nuclear material shipment
US-based Standard Nuclear has received its first shipment of HALEU feedstock at its facility in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
Transport
UK GOVERNMENT
UK and US Nuclear Experts Sign Landmark Partnership
Nuclear Transport Solutions and Westinghouse have signed a new strategic agreement to work together on the development of Pegasus – NTS’s revolutionary transport package designed to safely move the next generation of nuclear fuel.
Analysis
FOREIGN POLICY
The Pillars of the Global Nuclear Order Are Cracking
Rebecca Lissner and Erin Dumbachar discuss the end of 80 years of the US-led nonproliferation framework. Now its pillars have begun to crack with the collapse of arms control and nuclear expansion around the world.
WORLD POLITICS REVIEW
The World Needs a New Nonproliferation Framework
Marialaura De Angelis warns that while last arms control pact between the United States and Russia will expire in February, China, North Korea, South Korea, and Iran are poised to increase Uranium enrichment. A new global nonproliferation framework is urgently needed.
NUCLEAR NEWSWIRE
Nuclear Newswire has compiled a review of the nuclear news that filled headlines and sparked conversations in the year just completed.
THE NATIONAL INTEREST
Why Nuclear Arms Control Isn’t Obsolete
Lawrence Korb and Stephen Cimbala argue the rise of great power competition gives the United States all the more reason to invest in international cooperative frameworks for nuclear arms control.
Member Organization Announcements and Updates
Vienna Center for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation
Senior Fellow Dr. Nikolai Sokov published End of New START: Short- and Medium-Term Options, analyzing what will be lost with the expiration of New START, as well as the proposal by Russian President Vladimir Putin to continue observing the Treaty’s quantitative and qualitative limits in the absence of a verification regime.
Dr. Sarah Case Lackner and Mara Zarka published, Balancing Innovation and Nuclear Security for AI and IoT Technologies, addressing the intersection of the Internet of Things, AI, and nuclear security with recommendations on how to best maintain robust nuclear security in an increasingly digital world.
Bellona Foundation
Bellona released its 2025 overview, highlighting nuclear security risks related to the war in Ukraine, Russia’s nuclear legacy, and security challenges in the Arctic.
Bellona’s latest monthly Nuclear Digest provides an up-to-date analysis of nuclear safety and security developments related to Ukraine, with a focus on Russia’s influence in the international nuclear sphere and security risks stemming from dangerous dependencies. Digest subscribers are also invited to participate in a short surveyto help improve this periodic publication.
Global Nuclear Security Partners
GNSP have joined other UK partners in launching the Maritime Nuclear Consortium, focused on developing the standards required in the maritime and nuclear sectors to make these projects a reality.
James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies
CNS hosted Strengthening Radiological Security Through Next-Generation Workforce Development, a pilot course for graduate students and young professionals in coordination with the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration Office of Radiological Security.
Individual Member Updates
Jo-Ansie Van Wyk authored a chapter in: The Politics of Nuclear Energy in Africa: Opportunities, Fears and Constraints, edited by Eben Coetzee (University of the Free State, South Africa). Access the full volume.
Artem Lazarev: UNODC conducted a national visit to Colombia to promote the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT). The visit was funded by the Government of Canada. Find out more.
Ludovica Castelli published, “Europe, Nuclear Risks and the Politics of Restraint.” Access the paper.
Mustafa Kofi published, “Barriers to Women Seeking Nuclear Careers: A Review of Women in Nuclear.” Access the paper.
Tahir Azad published, “High-Energy Warfare and the New Nuclear Security Dilemma in South Asia” The Centre for International Security and Economic Strategy (CISES), London, January 2026. Access the paper.
Opportunities
CONFERENCE
University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
28 September – 3 October 2026
Non-Conventional Safety and Security Challenges in a Changing World | 4th Edition | 2026. The SICC Series – CBRNe Conference 2026 builds upon the success of its previous editions to strengthen the scientific, institutional, and operational dialogue on non-conventional safety and security.
JOB
BASIC, Remote, UK
Seeking a project officer to directly support the Project Manager, Dr Lyndon Burford, in delivering the Nuclear Transparency Inventory (NUTRI). NUTRI will catalogue the transparency policies and practices of all nuclear-armed states regarding their nuclear arsenals and related facilities.
JOB
Octant, Washington, DC
Seeking a Senior International Agreements Analyst to support DTRA’s Cooperative Threat Reduction Program’s mission to prevent the proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction and eliminate chemical, biological, and nuclear threats. Specifically, support the Integration Team working Interagency and International Agreements by researching, reviewing, tracking, updating, documenting, filing, organizing, analyzing, and coordinating International Agreements and Interagency Support Agreements intended to be used to support CTR’s mission.
JOB
Octant, Washington, DC
Seeking a Treaty/Arms Control Compliance Lead to study and assess the scope of USG, DoD, JS, Army, and international implementation and compliance reporting and certification requirements; inspection and visit requirements; data exchange and declaration requirements; and notification requirements in accordance with U.S. laws, regulations, guidance; arms control treaties, agreements, and initiatives; confidence and security building measure regimes; export control regimes; and technology associated with emerging AC initiatives.
JOB
Octant, Washington, DC
Seeking a Treaty Compliance Analyst to support the Army in its arms control and surety responsibilities. Duties include staffing, report writing, meeting management, data collection, studies and analysis.
JOB
Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization, Vienna, Austria
Seeking a Senior Legal Officer to prepare legal briefs on procedural or substantive matters pending in the Preparatory Commission or its subsidiary bodies, including issues of public international law relevant to the Preparatory Commission’s work, in particular with respect to the CTBT and the Text on the Establishment of the Preparatory Commission
JOB
Anthropic, San Francisco, CA; Washington, DC, Remote
Seeking a Technical CBRN-E Threat Investigator to join our threat intelligence team. In this role, you will be responsible for detecting, investigating, and disrupting the misuse of Anthropic’s AI systems for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosives (CBRN-E) threats.
JOB
Los Alamos National Lab, Los Alamos, NM
Seeking a Criticality Safety Analyst to support the Nuclear Criticality Safety Program by ensuring fissionable material operations remain subcritical under normal and credible abnormal conditions. The role interfaces with nuclear facility teams, conducts technical analyses, develops defensible safety arguments, and contributes to evaluations, reviews, incident response, and technical reporting across LANL’s national‑security mission.
JOB
Orano, Oak Ridge, TN
Seeking a Nuclear Facility Material Control and Accountability (MC&A) Specialist responsible for ensuring that all nuclear materials are securely managed, accurately tracked, and fully compliant with national and international safeguards regulations.
JOB
Nevada National Security Site, Mercury, NV
Seeking a Nuclear Facility Operations Specialist to assist facility management with the development of CONOPS culture. Develop proficient skills with Conduct of Operations Principles and guide personnel concerning expected performance and work processes.
JOB
Systems Planning & Analytics, Arlington, VA
Seeking a Nuclear Stockpile Expert to provide guidance and recommendations to the Government team on all nuclear stockpile issues and requirements that affect Air Force strategic deterrence efforts and policy. This includes coordination with Defense Department and other agencies involving the nuclear enterprise, stockpile, weapon systems, and the sustainment thereof.
FELLOWSHIP
Middlebury Institute for International Studies, Monterey, CA
The James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies is seeking fellows to work alongside experts and contribute to ongoing research while also pursuing an independent research project designed to strengthen their analytical and writing skills.
COURSE
George Washington University, Washington, DC
16 – 25 June 2026
GW Law will host a new two-week virtual summer program on nuclear energy law. The program, which will run in conjunction with the International Atomic Energy Agency aims to educate students on both the legal foundations of nuclear power and latest developments in the field, like space applications and maritime uses of nuclear energy.
