Theft of radioactive materials in the ex-Soviet republics

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.

ARTICLES
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newsru.com

[ 18.08.2005 ]
Turkish officials bust peddlers of Russia-origin uranium in Istanbul
Two men were arrested in Istanbul while trying to sell uranium of Russian origin in a sting operation conducted by Turkish special police, Russian media reported Wednesday.
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Nils Båhmer/Bellona

[ 11.08.2005 ]
Loose strontium discovered in Murmansk Region village
In a series of recurring thefts and acts of vandalism of nuclear installations in the Murmansk Region of Russia, a box containing strontium was found outside the Rezets factory in the regional village of Tri Ruchya, the Barents Observer newspaper reported.
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NRPA/Office of the County Governor of Finnmark

[ 02.04.2005 ]
Status Report: RTGs still an underestimated foe in securing loose nukes in Russia
A low profile joint US-Russian meeting on the subject of bilaterally dismantling Russia’s dilapidated and largely untended Radioactive Thermoelectric Generators (RTGs)—long viewed by both countries as fertile hunting ground for potential “dirty bomb” nuclear terrorists—was held for a small group of specialists, and passed almost completely unnoticed by the Russian public.
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NEWS
[ 30.01.2007 ]
Uranium smuggler caught in Georgia

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.

[ 22.10.2003 ]
Armenian nuclear plant threatens US security

The United States has included the closure of the Armenian nuclear reactor in its plans for securing weapons of mass destruction for next year.

[ 22.01.2003 ]
Report Urges International Action to Eliminate Risks From Russian WMDs

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