Theft of radioactive materials in the ex-Soviet republics
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Ignalina NPP Press Service |
Due to the number of nuclear power plants that Russia built in the Soviet republics before the Iron Curtain fell, one of the biggest threats for dirty-bomb grade nuclear material theft lies within these plants because of varying safety standards. There are at present: two Soviet built reactors in Armenia; one in Kazakhstan; one in Lithuania―which was robbed of an entire uranium assembly 13 years ago―and 14 in Ukraine. There are more than 20 Soviet built reactors in for Soviet bloc countries.
newsru.com
Nils Båhmer/Bellona
NRPA/Office of the County Governor of Finnmark
Russia is considering an inquiry into possible theft of highly enriched uranium from its nuclear sites, as another uranium smuggling report surfaced from Georgia, the Reuters news agency reported today quoting a spokesman for the Prosecutor General’s Office.
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The United States, Russia and Europe should do more to reduce the proliferation risks posed by remaining Russian stockpiles of nuclear, biological and chemical weapons, concludes a new report by a consortium of 15 influential private research centres that was released in London this week.