The United States has sensitive nuclear technology in a nuclear energy plant within Ukraine, and warns Russia not to touch it, according to a letter that the United States Department of Energy sent to the nuclear energy firm owned by Russia Rosatom last month.
In the letter, which was reviewed by CNN and is dated March 17, 2023, the director of the Office of Non -Proliferation of Energy Departments, Andrea Ferkile, tells the Rosatom general director that the nuclear pultinal of Zaporizhia, Datainar, Usinar is controlled by the United States government. ”
The goods, software and technology are subject to US export controls. When they are possible to be used in a way that undermines the United States national security interests.
The letter of the energy department occurs as the Russian forces continue to control the plant, which is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe and is in a part of the Zaporizhzhia region that Russia occupied after its invasion of Ukraine last February. The plant has frequently disconnected from the leg of the Ukraine electricity grid due to the intense Russian bombardment in the area, raising fros Europe from a nuclear accident.
While the plant is still physically operated by Ukraine staff, Rosatom manages it. The Energy Department warned Rosatom in the letter that is “illegal” so that any Russian citizen or entity manages US technology.
CNN has communicated with Rosatom to comment.
It is not clear if Rosatom has responded to the letter. The National Nuclear Safety Administration of Energy Departments told CNN in a statement that the letter is authentic.
The letters were first reported by the RBC Ukraine media.
“The National Nuclear Safety Administration of the Department of Energy can confirm that the letter is legitimate,” said Shayela Hassan, Deputy Director of Public Affairs of the National Nuclear Safety Administration.
He added: “The Secretary of Energy has the legal responsibility to authorize the transfer of non -classified civil technology and assistance to foreign atomic energy activities. Do not comment on regulatory activities.”
Another letter from Ferkile to the Inspector General of the Energy Departments, reviewed by CNN and dated October 24, 2022, describes the technology that USA has exported to Ukraine for use in the Zaporizhia plant and the reitros that the department has the data of the department of the department to any national or Russian entity. ”
The Nuclear Energy Office of the Energy Department has been public about the support of the United States for the plant and declared on its website in June 2021 that “the United States helped implement new procedures and maintenance operations in the reactor that should finally strengthen.”
Correction: This publication incorrectly described the means of communication that the letters reported for the first time. It was RBC Ukraine.