They warn against a possible deterioration in the country's nuclear energy sector.
The Community of Veterans of Nuclear Energy and Industry of Ukraine has sent a letter to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, and Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, Dmytro Razumkov, asking them to urgently intervene in the critical situation regarding Ukraine's national nuclear energy generating company Energoatom.
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The letter available to UNIAN was signed by former CEO of Zaporizhia nuclear power plant (NPP), ex-MP Volodymyr Bronnikov, former CEO of Rivne NPP Volodymyr Korovkin, Chairman of the Council of the Community of Veterans of Nuclear Energy and Industry of Ukraine Maksym Kremen, former deputy chief engineer at JSC Kyiv Research and Design Institute Energoproject Viktor Shenderovych, and Mykola Shteinberg, who held the positions of chief engineer at Chornobyl NPP, chairman of the Ukrainian nuclear regulatory body, and deputy fuel and energy minister.
The authors of the letter are convinced that a threatening situation is taking shape in the country's nuclear energy sector.
"For several months, the country's leading electricity supplier, Energoatom, has not had permanent managers who would have received the relevant permissions from the nuclear regulatory authority. Thus, de jure no one is responsible for the safety of the nuclear power plants. Wasn't the Chornobyl tragedy big enough and are we trying to have another one?" the letter said.
They note that the "controlled disorganization" of the so-called energy market led to non-payments for generated electricity.
"Energoatom lacks funds for safety and nuclear fuel procurements, and the shortage is growing rapidly. Are you aware what the forced shutdown of nuclear power units means?" they added.
The experts also point to repeat attempts to appoint people "who have little to do with the nuclear industry as Energoatom's top managers to control financial flows in the interests of those whose own prosperity is more important than the well-being of the country and population."
"Are you aware that all this is a gross violation of the international nuclear security regime? Isn't it time to stop the intrigue around Ukraine's nuclear energy sector and take measures to ensure the country's security and the well-being of the people?"
Addressing the Ukrainian president, the prime minister, and the parliament speaker, the experts said: "We neither ask nor urge you, we insist – stop the practice of appointing acting heads, stop the financial discrimination of Energoatom, and prevent another Chornobyl!"