Dear Friend,
This month’s three-year anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine was heralded by a drone attack on the $1.7 billion, internationally funded shell containing radiation from Chornobyl’s damaged reactor, an event that took place against a backdrop of world leaders gathering at the Munich Security Conference and that should refocus international attention on the significant dangers the ongoing conflict in Ukraine poses to all the country’s nuclear power plants (NPPs). As the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Mariano Grossi has been saying since the earliest days of the conflict, avoiding military action around the nuclear facilities should be of the highest priority for all sides in the fighting. Yet the IAEA, which maintains rotating teams of monitors at each of Ukraine’s NPPs, reports this month that the number of attacks on Zaporizhzhia NPP, which Russia has occupied since March 2022, have increased and that an IAEA monitoring team was unable to execute a planned rotation due to military activities. The fighting also imperils the ZNPP’s energy connections, which are critical to ensure safe operations at the facility. In other news, Korean energy companies Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) and KEPCO KPS have banned the use of Chinese company DeepSeek’s generative artificial intelligence (AI) tool at their facilities over security concerns, even as the IAEA hosted an International Symposium on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Nuclear Energy, highlighting the potential for AI and nuclear to complement each other as emerging technologies shaping the future.
Wishing you a productive month ahead.
Warmly,
Christina
Director, International Nuclear Security Forum
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Updates
- FUNDING APPEAL: If you appreciate this newsletter, please consider a donation to ensure sustainability into the future. Donate here and specify where indicated that your gift is intended to support the INSF. Institutional funding for civil society’s nuclear security work is increasingly hard to come by, as many readers already know, and the International Nuclear Security Forum appreciates your support!
Nuclear Security News
Impact: The Russian Invasion of Ukraine
- Russian Attacks Near Ukrainian Nuclear Infrastructure Heighten Scrutiny of Kyiv’s Preparedness (February 4): Moscow’s renewed attacks on Ukraine’s electricity infrastructure this winter have heightened scrutiny over the Ukrainian Energy Ministry’s failure to protect the country’s most critical energy facilities near nuclear power sites. Despite more than a year of warnings that the sites were vulnerable to potential Russian attacks, the Energy Ministry failed to act swiftly, current and former Ukrainian officials in Kyiv told The Associated Press. Two years of punishing Russian strikes on its power grid have left Ukraine reliant on nuclear power for more than half of its electricity generation. Especially vulnerable are the unprotected nuclear switchyards located outside the perimeters of its three functioning nuclear plants, which are crucial to transmitting power from the reactors to the rest of the country. “The switchyards that handle electrical routing from nuclear power plants are a vital component of Ukraine’s nuclear energy infrastructure — powering homes, schools, hospitals and other critical civilian infrastructure,” said Marcy R. Fowler, head of the office for research and analysis at Open Nuclear Network, a program of the U.S.-based NGO PAX sapiens that focuses on reducing nuclear risk. “Given Ukraine’s heavy reliance on nuclear energy, military attacks on these switchyards would be devastating, severely impacting civilian life and undermining the resilience of the energy grid,” she said.
- Update 273 – IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine (February 6): Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi met with President Volodymyr Zelensky and assessed damage to energy infrastructure vital for nuclear safety during his 11th visit to Ukraine since the military conflict began almost three years ago, as part of the ongoing efforts of the [IAEA] to help prevent a nuclear accident. Before his meetings with President Zelensky and senior government officials in Kyiv on [February 4], the Director General travelled to one of the substations on which Ukraine’s nuclear power plants (NPPs) depend to receive the off-site power needed to cool their reactors and for other essential nuclear safety and security functions and also to transmit the electricity they generate. In recent months, Ukraine’s operating NPPs – Khmelnytskyy, Rivne and South Ukraine – have several times been forced to reduce power output because of widespread military activities affecting the electricity grid, in which the substations form a key part. Most recently, Ukraine informed the IAEA that the NPPs temporarily lowered their production on February 1 before returning to nominal power again. “The reason that this is so important, from the perspective of the IAEA, is because of the influence of this situation on the safety of the nuclear power plants’ operation,” Director General Grossi told journalists at the substation, which is among several such facilities that were further damaged and degraded in recent months.
- UN Nuclear Chief Says Number of Attacks on Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant Has Increased, TASS Reports (February 7): Rafael Grossi, head of the [IAEA], said on [February 7] that the number of attacks on the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine had increased, Russia’s TASS state news agency reported. Grossi was speaking after holding talks in Moscow with Alexei Likhachev, head of Russian nuclear corporation Rosatom. Russian forces took control of the plant soon after the start of the war with Ukraine in 2022 and Moscow has said the Zaporizhzhia region, which it does not fully control, is now part of Russia, an assertion which Kyiv rejects. Rosatom said in a statement after the Grossi-Likhachev talks that Ukraine was constantly carrying out attacks on Energodar, the closest town to the nuclear plant. But Grossi was quoted by TASS as saying that it was impossible to determine which side was carrying out the attacks based on the examination of drone fragments. “The small fragments of plastic or wood left by the alleged drones do not allow us to speak about the origin of these fragments. However, I would like to assure you that I am raising these issues at the highest level of international discussions,” Grossi was cited as saying.
- Zaporizhzhia NPP On Brink of Blackout Due to Russian Attacks (February 11): On Tuesday, February 11, one of the two power lines supplying the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant [ZNPP] was cut off due to enemy shelling. The [ZNPP] is once again on the brink of a blackout due to Russian attacks, according to the Ministry of Energy on Facebook. According to the ministry, the nuclear power plant is currently connected to Ukraine’s power grid by only one transmission line. However, energy workers will be able to begin restoring power through this line as soon as the security situation permits. “Once again, the [ZNPP] faces a real threat of blackout due to enemy attacks — one of the two power lines connecting the temporarily occupied plant to Ukraine’s unified energy system has been cut off. Due to the Russian occupation of the plant, the situation at the NPP remains dangerous, and only the return of control over the plant to Ukraine can guarantee the safe operation of the largest nuclear power station in Europe,” said Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko.
- Update 274 – IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine (February 12): Today’s scheduled rotation of the [IAEA] team currently based at Ukraine’s [ZNPP] was cancelled as a result of intense military activity in the region, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said. Despite written assurances received from both sides that the planned rotation could take place safely, the situation proved to be too dangerous for the teams to continue and the mission was aborted.
- Chernobyl Radiation Shield Hit by Russian Drone, Ukraine Says (February 14): A Russian drone has hit the protective shelter over Chernobyl’s damaged nuclear reactor, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said. The overnight strike at the site of the world’s worst nuclear accident caused a fire that has since been extinguished, he added. The [IAEA] said radiation levels inside and outside Chernobyl were normal and stable – but later the plant’s chief engineer, Oleksandr Titarchuk, said the possibility of radioactive substances leaking “now exists”. Russia has denied any claims it attacked Chernobyl, stating its military does not strike Ukrainian nuclear infrastructure and “any claims that this was the case do not correspond to reality.” The [IAEA], which monitors nuclear safety around the world, said fire safety personnel and vehicles responded within minutes to an overnight explosion. No casualties were reported, the agency added. The agency remains on “high alert” after the incident, with its director general Rafael Grossi saying there is “no room for complacency.”
- Update 275 – IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine (February 14): A drone attack early [on the morning of February 14] caused a fire on the building confining the remains of the reactor destroyed in the 1986 Chornobyl accident, a deeply concerning incident that underlines the persistent risks to nuclear safety during the military conflict, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi of the [IAEA] said. The IAEA team based at the site – who heard the explosion at 01:50am local time followed by smoke and associated fire visible from their dormitory rooms – were informed by Ukraine that a drone had struck the New Safe Confinement (NSC), a large structure built to prevent any radioactive release from the damaged reactor unit 4 and to protect it from any external hazard. Fire safety personnel and vehicles arrived at the scene within minutes to extinguish the blaze, which still could be seen intermittently for several hours afterwards. The IAEA team could see a breach of the outer layer of the NSC that occurred following the detonation. Supplementary information from Ukraine’s regulatory body received this morning confirmed that the outer cladding of the NSC arch sustained damage, and investigations are ongoing to determine the status of the inner cladding. Radiation levels inside and outside the NSC building remain normal and stable, the IAEA team was informed. There were no reports of casualties.
- Update 276 – IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine (February 15): Ukrainian firefighters have been working around the clock in freezing weather to completely extinguish small fires that still smolder after [the] drone strike [on February 14] on the building containing the remains of the reactor destroyed in the 1986 Chornobyl accident, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi of the [IAEA] said [on February 15]. The IAEA team based at the site was granted unrestricted access to the site of the explosion and conducted an extensive walkdown to assess the damage to the [NSC], where the drone that struck early […] morning [on February 14] pierced a hole through the roof of the large arch-shaped structure built to prevent any radioactive release from the damaged reactor and protect it from external hazards. The IAEA experts saw smoke coming from the NSC roof and smelled burning plastic. The ongoing efforts to put out and prevent the spread of any remaining fires – apparently fueled by inflammable material in the roof cladding – have delayed work to start repairing the damage to the NSC, which was completed in 2019 on top of the sarcophagus that was erected in the immediate aftermath of the accident nearly four decades ago. Despite significant damage caused by the drone impact, the IAEA team was informed that there had been no change in the radiation levels at the site. This was also confirmed by the team’s own measurements which showed normal dose rate values near the NSC compared to those that the IAEA has recorded since it established a continuous presence at the site just over two years ago.
- Update 277 – IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine (February 20): Ukraine’s [ZNPP] has been relying on a single off-site power line for more than a week [before February 20] after its only remaining back-up line was lost, once again highlighting an extremely fragile nuclear safety situation during the military conflict, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi of the [IAEA] said [on February 20]. [NPPs] need a secure supply of external electricity to cool their reactors and for other essential nuclear safety and security functions. However, this has been a major challenge over the past three years, with the ZNPP temporarily losing all off-site power eight times. In the latest incident affecting the reliability of the supply of power from the grid, its sole 330 kilovolt (kV) back-up power line was disconnected on February 11 and has not yet been fully restored. This leaves Europe’s largest NPP entirely dependent on its only remaining 750 kV line. Before the conflict, it had a total of 10 power lines – six 750 kV and four 330 kV – available. “The Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant still needs reliable supplies of off-site power for cooling purposes, even though its six reactors have been shut down for more than two years now,” Director General Grossi said. “The vulnerability of the external power situation remains a deep source of concern for nuclear safety.”
International Architecture
- Kenya Leads the Charge in Regional Security Collaboration at CBRN Forum: Kenya has vowed to work closely with other nations in putting in place tighter mechanisms against security risks like terrorism and organized crimes. Addressing a regional meeting on [February 18] attended by officials from at least 20 countries, Kenya Nuclear Regulatory Authority (KNRA) Director General James Keter said changes in technology and the cross-border nature of crimes call for effective preventive and response strategies. Mr. Keter, at the same time, said that with fears of porous borders fueling illicit trafficking of radiological and nuclear materials, stakeholders should “work day and night” to ensure safety and protection of people, property and the environment.
Weapons, Materials, and Facilities
- What’s Next for WW2 Site Now Storing Nuclear Waste?: On the doorstep of a small village, there is a site which looks a little like an industrial estate, apart from its tall fences topped with barbed wire and huge gates. It’s not the kind of place you can just wander into – tonnes and tonnes of radioactive waste is stored here. The BBC was allowed to see what happens behind the gates of the UK’s only Low Level Waste Repository (LLWR). On Cumbria’s west coast, just outside the village of Drigg, an explosives factory that shipped about 400 tonnes of TNT per week during World War Two once stood. It became a nuclear store for low level radioactive waste in 1959 and is expected to continue operating until 2135. [The week of February 3], a major operation is starting here to cover and secure an area the size of about 56,000 football pitches full of radioactive waste. Site manager Mike Pigott says it could survive extreme scenarios, including the breakdown of society. “We almost have to assume that future generations potentially could not intervene in certain scenarios, so we need to make sure it’s robust to protect people and the environment multiple generations into the future – potentially thousands of years,” he says.
- Trump Firings Cause Chaos at Agency Responsible for America’s Nuclear Weapons: Scenes of confusion and chaos unfolded over [February 13 and 14] at the civilian agency that oversees the nation’s nuclear weapons stockpile, as the Trump administration’s mass firings were carried out before being “paused” on [February 14]. This account of firings at the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) is based on interviews with several current and former NNSA employees who asked to remain anonymous, fearing retribution from the Trump administration. Officials were given hours to fire hundreds of employees, and workers were shut out of email as termination notices arrived. The terminations were part of a broader group of dismissals at the Department of Energy, where reportedly more than a thousand federal workers were terminated. It was all a result of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative to slash the federal workforce and what Musk and President Trump characterize as excessive government spending. The NNSA is a semi-autonomous agency within the Department of Energy that oversees the U.S. stockpile of thousands of nuclear weapons. Despite having the words “National” and “Security” in its title, it was not getting an exemption for national security, managers at the agency were told [on February 7], according to an employee at NNSA who asked not to be named, fearing retribution from the Trump administration. Just days before, officials in leadership had scrambled to write descriptions for the roughly 300 probationary employees at the agency who had joined the federal workforce less than two years ago.
- US Energy Department Says Less than 50 Purged from Nuclear Security Office: U.S. President Donald Trump and his adviser Elon Musk purged less than 50 workers from the agency that maintains the country’s nuclear weapons arsenal, the Department of Energy said on [February 16], after far wider layoffs there were suddenly rescinded, causing chaos among staff. On [February 14], sources told Reuters that 325 workers had been sent notice that they had been laid off from the National Nuclear Security Administration, part of the department which employs about 2,000 people and works around the world to secure dangerous nuclear materials, including in Ukraine as Russia’s war continues. Later that day, an uncertain number of those layoffs were rescinded, causing chaos in NNSA offices in Washington and other places in the country, as many workers were unsure of their employment, the sources said. On [February 16], a department spokesperson said less than 50 were dismissed.
- Watchdog Drops Extra Sellafield Security Checks: A watchdog has dropped the requirement for extra security checks at the UK’s largest nuclear site. Sellafield, near Seascale in Cumbria, was under “enhanced” scrutiny by the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) for its physical security – measures against “theft and sabotage of nuclear materials”. The ONR said it could not make public what had triggered the escalation from routine monitoring due to security issues, but said the requirement was dropped following “sustained improvements”. The site remains under “significantly enhanced attention” for cyber security, the ONR added.
Emerging Technologies
- South Korean Energy Giants Ban China’s AI Tool DeepSeek Amid Security Concerns: In a significant move reflecting growing global concerns over data privacy and security, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) and KEPCO KPS have banned the use of China’s generative artificial intelligence (AI) tool, DeepSeek. This decision marks the first such action in South Korea’s public sector, underscoring the increasing scrutiny of foreign AI technologies. The ban by KHNP and KEPCO KPS, both pivotal players in South Korea’s energy infrastructure, particularly in the nuclear sector, is primarily driven by security concerns. DeepSeek has been criticized for its potential to leak data and its weak personal information protection measures. Ha Jung-woo, director of Naver Future AI Center, voiced his apprehensions on social media, stating, “Not only information on the devices used but also keyboard input patterns or rhythms, IP information, device IDs, and even cookies are entirely collected and stored on security servers located in China.” The concerns are not unfounded. Dewardric McNeal, a senior policy analyst at Longview Global, highlighted the extent of data collection possible through DeepSeek, claiming it is “20 times greater than what can be collected through Google searches.” This has raised alarms about the potential for sensitive information, especially from critical infrastructure like nuclear power plants, to be compromised.
- Warning Sent About Need for Strategic Policing Reform to Address Security Of SMRs: National Policy Statement for nuclear energy generation (EN-7) was published in draft form on February 6 following an announcement by the prime minister about the slashing of legislation around the development of nuclear energy generation projects. Prime minister Keir Starmer said, “This country hasn’t built a nuclear power station in decades. We’ve been let down, and left behind. Our energy security has been hostage to Putin for too long, with British prices skyrocketing at his whims. I’m putting an end to it – changing the rules to back the builders of this nation, and saying no to the blockers who have strangled our chances of cheaper energy, growth and jobs for far too long.” […] Recent analysis by the Alan Turing Institute’s Centre for Emerging Technology and Security said that policing capability was not up to scratch to protect SMRs. Policing SMRs would require a significant uplift in funding and workforce at the Civil Nuclear Constabulary (CNC) which is run by the Civil Nuclear Police Authority (CNPA). The CNPA is an executive non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ). Local police forces, overseen by the Home Office, could also be required to increase their capacity to respond to CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear) incidents. It is currently unclear how any resource uplift would be funded, and which bodies would provide that funding. As things stand, gigawatt-scale nuclear power sites’ security is funded by the developers themselves.
- IAEA to Host International Symposium on AI and Nuclear Energy in December: The IAEA will host the first ever International Symposium on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Nuclear Energy at its headquarters in Vienna from December 3 to 4, 2025. The Symposium will explore how nuclear energy can help meet growing electricity demand from the data centers driving AI as well as the myriad ways AI can support the nuclear power industry. With AI’s meteoric rise mirroring nuclear power’s recent and ongoing revival, this event is especially timely and will highlight the emerging nexus between the two industries. “With AI becoming increasingly integrated in society and nuclear power expansion identified as vital to making reliable, clean energy abundance a reality, there is an incredible opportunity for these industries to help maximize each other’s contributions,” said IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi. “Nuclear power reactors can provide the reliable, clean electricity needed for the sustainability of AI and other ‘big data’ applications, and at the same time, AI can optimize reactor performance, advanced fuel development and other critical areas so nuclear power can reach its full potential.” The Symposium will bring together relevant stakeholders from around the world, including high-level representatives from the nuclear and AI sectors as well as nuclear regulators. The two-day event will feature panel discussions, exhibitions and side events delving into the dual themes of ‘Powering Data Centres with Nuclear Energy’ and ‘Opportunities and Challenges for AI in the Nuclear Sector’.
Member Organization Announcements and Updates
Bellona Foundation
- Bellona has posted its November-December 2024 Nuclear Digest which reviews events related to nuclear safety in Ukraine, the involvement of the Russian nuclear industry and Rosatom corporation in these events, and its impact on international markets. Read the digest.
International Institute for Strategic Studies
- Alexander K. Bollfrass argues that Ukrainian leaders have declared the need for either NATO membership or possession of nuclear weapons for security from Russia, but that they would face several technical and political challenges in acquiring such weapons in a new piece titled “Are nuclear weapons an option for Ukraine?”. Read his analysis.
- Arms Control Poseur podcast host Dr Alexander Bollfrass is joined by leading experts Ambassador Bonnie Jenkins, Amy Woolf and Dr Rebecca Gibbons to explore the Cold War Arms race, deterrence strategies and what the future might hold for US nuclear policy. Listen to the episode.
- Arms Control Poseur podcast host Dr Alexander Bollfrass is joined by nuclear experts Lydia Wachs and Andrey Baklitskiy to explore the historical and current trajectory of Russia’s nuclear arsenal. Listen to the episode.
Third Way
- Third Way hosted a private roundtable with the US Permanent Mission in Vienna on the sidelines of the IAEA SMR Conference convening country representatives, nuclear industry, and IAEA technical staff about the key barriers to safeguards and security implementation for advanced reactors. They published a report title “Preparing Advanced Nuclear for Global Deployment,” and are looking to continue the conversation with anyone interested in the topic. Read the report.
Vienna Center for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation
- VCDNP Senior Research Associate Noah Mayhew has authored a new paper, Mitigating the Threat of Attacks on Nuclear Facilities, which provides an in-depth analysis of existing legal frameworks governing these attacks and explores avenues to reinforce them, as well as non-binding measures. Read the paper.
- VCDNP Senior Fellow Dr. Nikolai Sokov co-authored a report analyzing existing risk reduction and confidence-building mechanisms and providing practical recommendations for further development of this system to better address new and emerging security challenges. Read the report.
- The VCDNP held a webinar with former Research Intern Alexander Hoppenbrouwers, who examined the technical challenges of applying nuclear safeguards to naval nuclear propulsion under Article 14 of comprehensive safeguards agreements. VCDNP Senior Fellow Laura Rockwood joined the webinar as a commentator. Watch the webinar.
- The VCDNP hosted 23 experts from governments, international organizations, industry, and academia for an interactive workshop to explore the risks and opportunities of AI for the nuclear supply chain and the security of nuclear facilities. Find out about the workshop.
- The VCDNP and the International Affairs Institute (IAI), on behalf of the EU Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Consortium (EUNPDC), hosted an interactive webinar featuring Eva Gyane, former IAEA safeguards inspector, to explore the IAEA’s safeguards system, careers in nuclear non-proliferation, and the day-to-day work of safeguards inspectors. Watch the webinar.
Individual Member Updates
- Ali Alkis presented at the Pebble Bed and TRISO-Fueled Reactor Nonproliferation Workshop at Texas A&M University on February 6, exploring innovative approaches to nuclear security and nonproliferation for next-generation reactors. His presentation focused on hybrid verification techniques, combining statistical flow monitoring with targeted checks to track the dynamic movement of fuel. He also discussed proactive security integration, emphasizing the importance of embedding advanced security protocols into reactor design to mitigate potential vulnerabilities. Additionally, he highlighted enhanced nuclear security measures, leveraging digital and physical security advancements to address evolving challenges. Find out more.
- Artem Lazarev from the CBRN Terrorism Prevention Programme of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) shared that:
- On February 7, 2025, Ecuador deposited its instrument of ratification of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT) with the United Nations Secretary-General. On March 9, 2025, the country will become the 127th party to the Convention, which will conclude over five years of the country’s relevant cooperation with UNODC. Read about the ratification.
- On January 31, UNODC held the third event of the Virtual speaker series on ICSANT and Nuclear Terrorism, funded by the Government of Canada. Highlighting the importance of gender perspectives in the context of ICSANT, the event featured guest speakers from UNODC, Canada and Thailand, as well as the African Center for Science and International Security (AFRICSIS) and the Vienna Center for Disarmament and Non‑Proliferation (VCDNP). Watch the event.
Opportunities
- The David Rockefeller Studies Program at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) is seeking to hire a Stanton Nuclear Security Senior Fellow. The fellow will be expected to conduct original research on nuclear security policy, which includes nuclear terrorism, nuclear proliferation, and nuclear weapons, and as it relates to nuclear security, nuclear energy. This is an extraordinary opportunity for an individual looking to shape new thinking and creative policy solutions on the spread of nuclear weapons to unstable and hostile states, the collapse of arms control and risk of conflict between nuclear-armed nations, the importance of nuclear weapons in great power competition, and the impact of new technologies such as AI and quantum on the nuclear balance. Read more.
- IB3 Global Solutions is seeking talented nuclear security/nonproliferation professionals, especially around the DC area, to support various programs under some of the national labs. Specific positions are not posted but those interested should apply to IB3’s general application. Read more.
- The Partnership for Global Security (PGS) is seeking applicants for their Research Internship. The intern will primarily focus on researching nuclear security, nuclear energy, and transnational governance issues. Current research projects that interns will support include: exploring the nexus of climate change, nuclear power growth and global security; understanding the growth of nuclear energy in the Middle East and East Asia; tracking the evolution of nuclear security policies and governance structures; using existing voluntary frameworks as a model for nuclear security governance structures; and examining cybersecurity and other potential threats prompted by new technology developments. Read more.
- The Partnership for Global Security (PGS) is seeking candidates for the Della Ratta Global Energy and Security Fellowship. This is a $15,000 stipend-supported six-month position. The applicant’s term will run from January-June 2025. The Della Ratta Fellowship is a unique opportunity for early career candidates to develop the skills and experience that are necessary for a rapidly evolving technological, security, and geopolitical environment. The primary focus is on addressing the intensifying intersection of nuclear energy and commerce, climate change, global security, geopolitics, and international energy security. Read more.
- The Laboratory of Applied Nuclear Physics (LANPh) is announcing two openings at the level of a postdoc and/or research scientist. The selected scientists will have the chance to work on groundbreaking research in nuclear physics applied to problems in nuclear security, such as arms control, cargo security, and nuclear detection. The principal duties include contributing to existing projects at LANPh in leading/co-leading roles’ guiding graduate and undergraduate students in their research, designing experiments and new engineering concepts, and co-authoring papers and proposals.Read more.
- The Raymond Frankel Nuclear Security Policy Fellowship at the American Academy of Arts & Sciences provides an opportunity for an early-career professional with training in security studies or nuclear policy to learn about a career in public policy and administration. Reporting to the Chief Program Officer, the Fellow will assume primary responsibility for one or more workstreams within the Academy’s nuclear and global security portfolio. They will work in close coordination with Academy staff, the Academy’s Committee on International Security Studies (CISS), and project chairs to steward and advance the work of this program area. Read more.
Dear Friend,
This month’s three-year anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine was heralded by a drone attack on the $1.7 billion, internationally funded shell containing radiation from Chornobyl’s damaged reactor, an event that took place against a backdrop of world leaders gathering at the Munich Security Conference and that should refocus international attention on the significant dangers the ongoing conflict in Ukraine poses to all the country’s nuclear power plants (NPPs). As the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Mariano Grossi has been saying since the earliest days of the conflict, avoiding military action around the nuclear facilities should be of the highest priority for all sides in the fighting. Yet the IAEA, which maintains rotating teams of monitors at each of Ukraine’s NPPs, reports this month that the number of attacks on Zaporizhzhia NPP, which Russia has occupied since March 2022, have increased and that an IAEA monitoring team was unable to execute a planned rotation due to military activities. The fighting also imperils the ZNPP’s energy connections, which are critical to ensure safe operations at the facility. In other news, Korean energy companies Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) and KEPCO KPS have banned the use of Chinese company DeepSeek’s generative artificial intelligence (AI) tool at their facilities over security concerns, even as the IAEA hosted an International Symposium on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Nuclear Energy, highlighting the potential for AI and nuclear to complement each other as emerging technologies shaping the future.
Wishing you a productive month ahead.
Warmly,
Christina
Director, International Nuclear Security Forum
Join the conversation on X: @INS_Forum
Follow INSF on LinkedIn here
RelatedPost
Updates
- FUNDING APPEAL: If you appreciate this newsletter, please consider a donation to ensure sustainability into the future. Donate here and specify where indicated that your gift is intended to support the INSF. Institutional funding for civil society’s nuclear security work is increasingly hard to come by, as many readers already know, and the International Nuclear Security Forum appreciates your support!
Nuclear Security News
Impact: The Russian Invasion of Ukraine
- Russian Attacks Near Ukrainian Nuclear Infrastructure Heighten Scrutiny of Kyiv’s Preparedness (February 4): Moscow’s renewed attacks on Ukraine’s electricity infrastructure this winter have heightened scrutiny over the Ukrainian Energy Ministry’s failure to protect the country’s most critical energy facilities near nuclear power sites. Despite more than a year of warnings that the sites were vulnerable to potential Russian attacks, the Energy Ministry failed to act swiftly, current and former Ukrainian officials in Kyiv told The Associated Press. Two years of punishing Russian strikes on its power grid have left Ukraine reliant on nuclear power for more than half of its electricity generation. Especially vulnerable are the unprotected nuclear switchyards located outside the perimeters of its three functioning nuclear plants, which are crucial to transmitting power from the reactors to the rest of the country. “The switchyards that handle electrical routing from nuclear power plants are a vital component of Ukraine’s nuclear energy infrastructure — powering homes, schools, hospitals and other critical civilian infrastructure,” said Marcy R. Fowler, head of the office for research and analysis at Open Nuclear Network, a program of the U.S.-based NGO PAX sapiens that focuses on reducing nuclear risk. “Given Ukraine’s heavy reliance on nuclear energy, military attacks on these switchyards would be devastating, severely impacting civilian life and undermining the resilience of the energy grid,” she said.
- Update 273 – IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine (February 6): Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi met with President Volodymyr Zelensky and assessed damage to energy infrastructure vital for nuclear safety during his 11th visit to Ukraine since the military conflict began almost three years ago, as part of the ongoing efforts of the [IAEA] to help prevent a nuclear accident. Before his meetings with President Zelensky and senior government officials in Kyiv on [February 4], the Director General travelled to one of the substations on which Ukraine’s nuclear power plants (NPPs) depend to receive the off-site power needed to cool their reactors and for other essential nuclear safety and security functions and also to transmit the electricity they generate. In recent months, Ukraine’s operating NPPs – Khmelnytskyy, Rivne and South Ukraine – have several times been forced to reduce power output because of widespread military activities affecting the electricity grid, in which the substations form a key part. Most recently, Ukraine informed the IAEA that the NPPs temporarily lowered their production on February 1 before returning to nominal power again. “The reason that this is so important, from the perspective of the IAEA, is because of the influence of this situation on the safety of the nuclear power plants’ operation,” Director General Grossi told journalists at the substation, which is among several such facilities that were further damaged and degraded in recent months.
- UN Nuclear Chief Says Number of Attacks on Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant Has Increased, TASS Reports (February 7): Rafael Grossi, head of the [IAEA], said on [February 7] that the number of attacks on the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine had increased, Russia’s TASS state news agency reported. Grossi was speaking after holding talks in Moscow with Alexei Likhachev, head of Russian nuclear corporation Rosatom. Russian forces took control of the plant soon after the start of the war with Ukraine in 2022 and Moscow has said the Zaporizhzhia region, which it does not fully control, is now part of Russia, an assertion which Kyiv rejects. Rosatom said in a statement after the Grossi-Likhachev talks that Ukraine was constantly carrying out attacks on Energodar, the closest town to the nuclear plant. But Grossi was quoted by TASS as saying that it was impossible to determine which side was carrying out the attacks based on the examination of drone fragments. “The small fragments of plastic or wood left by the alleged drones do not allow us to speak about the origin of these fragments. However, I would like to assure you that I am raising these issues at the highest level of international discussions,” Grossi was cited as saying.
- Zaporizhzhia NPP On Brink of Blackout Due to Russian Attacks (February 11): On Tuesday, February 11, one of the two power lines supplying the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant [ZNPP] was cut off due to enemy shelling. The [ZNPP] is once again on the brink of a blackout due to Russian attacks, according to the Ministry of Energy on Facebook. According to the ministry, the nuclear power plant is currently connected to Ukraine’s power grid by only one transmission line. However, energy workers will be able to begin restoring power through this line as soon as the security situation permits. “Once again, the [ZNPP] faces a real threat of blackout due to enemy attacks — one of the two power lines connecting the temporarily occupied plant to Ukraine’s unified energy system has been cut off. Due to the Russian occupation of the plant, the situation at the NPP remains dangerous, and only the return of control over the plant to Ukraine can guarantee the safe operation of the largest nuclear power station in Europe,” said Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko.
- Update 274 – IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine (February 12): Today’s scheduled rotation of the [IAEA] team currently based at Ukraine’s [ZNPP] was cancelled as a result of intense military activity in the region, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said. Despite written assurances received from both sides that the planned rotation could take place safely, the situation proved to be too dangerous for the teams to continue and the mission was aborted.
- Chernobyl Radiation Shield Hit by Russian Drone, Ukraine Says (February 14): A Russian drone has hit the protective shelter over Chernobyl’s damaged nuclear reactor, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said. The overnight strike at the site of the world’s worst nuclear accident caused a fire that has since been extinguished, he added. The [IAEA] said radiation levels inside and outside Chernobyl were normal and stable – but later the plant’s chief engineer, Oleksandr Titarchuk, said the possibility of radioactive substances leaking “now exists”. Russia has denied any claims it attacked Chernobyl, stating its military does not strike Ukrainian nuclear infrastructure and “any claims that this was the case do not correspond to reality.” The [IAEA], which monitors nuclear safety around the world, said fire safety personnel and vehicles responded within minutes to an overnight explosion. No casualties were reported, the agency added. The agency remains on “high alert” after the incident, with its director general Rafael Grossi saying there is “no room for complacency.”
- Update 275 – IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine (February 14): A drone attack early [on the morning of February 14] caused a fire on the building confining the remains of the reactor destroyed in the 1986 Chornobyl accident, a deeply concerning incident that underlines the persistent risks to nuclear safety during the military conflict, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi of the [IAEA] said. The IAEA team based at the site – who heard the explosion at 01:50am local time followed by smoke and associated fire visible from their dormitory rooms – were informed by Ukraine that a drone had struck the New Safe Confinement (NSC), a large structure built to prevent any radioactive release from the damaged reactor unit 4 and to protect it from any external hazard. Fire safety personnel and vehicles arrived at the scene within minutes to extinguish the blaze, which still could be seen intermittently for several hours afterwards. The IAEA team could see a breach of the outer layer of the NSC that occurred following the detonation. Supplementary information from Ukraine’s regulatory body received this morning confirmed that the outer cladding of the NSC arch sustained damage, and investigations are ongoing to determine the status of the inner cladding. Radiation levels inside and outside the NSC building remain normal and stable, the IAEA team was informed. There were no reports of casualties.
- Update 276 – IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine (February 15): Ukrainian firefighters have been working around the clock in freezing weather to completely extinguish small fires that still smolder after [the] drone strike [on February 14] on the building containing the remains of the reactor destroyed in the 1986 Chornobyl accident, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi of the [IAEA] said [on February 15]. The IAEA team based at the site was granted unrestricted access to the site of the explosion and conducted an extensive walkdown to assess the damage to the [NSC], where the drone that struck early […] morning [on February 14] pierced a hole through the roof of the large arch-shaped structure built to prevent any radioactive release from the damaged reactor and protect it from external hazards. The IAEA experts saw smoke coming from the NSC roof and smelled burning plastic. The ongoing efforts to put out and prevent the spread of any remaining fires – apparently fueled by inflammable material in the roof cladding – have delayed work to start repairing the damage to the NSC, which was completed in 2019 on top of the sarcophagus that was erected in the immediate aftermath of the accident nearly four decades ago. Despite significant damage caused by the drone impact, the IAEA team was informed that there had been no change in the radiation levels at the site. This was also confirmed by the team’s own measurements which showed normal dose rate values near the NSC compared to those that the IAEA has recorded since it established a continuous presence at the site just over two years ago.
- Update 277 – IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine (February 20): Ukraine’s [ZNPP] has been relying on a single off-site power line for more than a week [before February 20] after its only remaining back-up line was lost, once again highlighting an extremely fragile nuclear safety situation during the military conflict, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi of the [IAEA] said [on February 20]. [NPPs] need a secure supply of external electricity to cool their reactors and for other essential nuclear safety and security functions. However, this has been a major challenge over the past three years, with the ZNPP temporarily losing all off-site power eight times. In the latest incident affecting the reliability of the supply of power from the grid, its sole 330 kilovolt (kV) back-up power line was disconnected on February 11 and has not yet been fully restored. This leaves Europe’s largest NPP entirely dependent on its only remaining 750 kV line. Before the conflict, it had a total of 10 power lines – six 750 kV and four 330 kV – available. “The Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant still needs reliable supplies of off-site power for cooling purposes, even though its six reactors have been shut down for more than two years now,” Director General Grossi said. “The vulnerability of the external power situation remains a deep source of concern for nuclear safety.”
International Architecture
- Kenya Leads the Charge in Regional Security Collaboration at CBRN Forum: Kenya has vowed to work closely with other nations in putting in place tighter mechanisms against security risks like terrorism and organized crimes. Addressing a regional meeting on [February 18] attended by officials from at least 20 countries, Kenya Nuclear Regulatory Authority (KNRA) Director General James Keter said changes in technology and the cross-border nature of crimes call for effective preventive and response strategies. Mr. Keter, at the same time, said that with fears of porous borders fueling illicit trafficking of radiological and nuclear materials, stakeholders should “work day and night” to ensure safety and protection of people, property and the environment.
Weapons, Materials, and Facilities
- What’s Next for WW2 Site Now Storing Nuclear Waste?: On the doorstep of a small village, there is a site which looks a little like an industrial estate, apart from its tall fences topped with barbed wire and huge gates. It’s not the kind of place you can just wander into – tonnes and tonnes of radioactive waste is stored here. The BBC was allowed to see what happens behind the gates of the UK’s only Low Level Waste Repository (LLWR). On Cumbria’s west coast, just outside the village of Drigg, an explosives factory that shipped about 400 tonnes of TNT per week during World War Two once stood. It became a nuclear store for low level radioactive waste in 1959 and is expected to continue operating until 2135. [The week of February 3], a major operation is starting here to cover and secure an area the size of about 56,000 football pitches full of radioactive waste. Site manager Mike Pigott says it could survive extreme scenarios, including the breakdown of society. “We almost have to assume that future generations potentially could not intervene in certain scenarios, so we need to make sure it’s robust to protect people and the environment multiple generations into the future – potentially thousands of years,” he says.
- Trump Firings Cause Chaos at Agency Responsible for America’s Nuclear Weapons: Scenes of confusion and chaos unfolded over [February 13 and 14] at the civilian agency that oversees the nation’s nuclear weapons stockpile, as the Trump administration’s mass firings were carried out before being “paused” on [February 14]. This account of firings at the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) is based on interviews with several current and former NNSA employees who asked to remain anonymous, fearing retribution from the Trump administration. Officials were given hours to fire hundreds of employees, and workers were shut out of email as termination notices arrived. The terminations were part of a broader group of dismissals at the Department of Energy, where reportedly more than a thousand federal workers were terminated. It was all a result of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative to slash the federal workforce and what Musk and President Trump characterize as excessive government spending. The NNSA is a semi-autonomous agency within the Department of Energy that oversees the U.S. stockpile of thousands of nuclear weapons. Despite having the words “National” and “Security” in its title, it was not getting an exemption for national security, managers at the agency were told [on February 7], according to an employee at NNSA who asked not to be named, fearing retribution from the Trump administration. Just days before, officials in leadership had scrambled to write descriptions for the roughly 300 probationary employees at the agency who had joined the federal workforce less than two years ago.
- US Energy Department Says Less than 50 Purged from Nuclear Security Office: U.S. President Donald Trump and his adviser Elon Musk purged less than 50 workers from the agency that maintains the country’s nuclear weapons arsenal, the Department of Energy said on [February 16], after far wider layoffs there were suddenly rescinded, causing chaos among staff. On [February 14], sources told Reuters that 325 workers had been sent notice that they had been laid off from the National Nuclear Security Administration, part of the department which employs about 2,000 people and works around the world to secure dangerous nuclear materials, including in Ukraine as Russia’s war continues. Later that day, an uncertain number of those layoffs were rescinded, causing chaos in NNSA offices in Washington and other places in the country, as many workers were unsure of their employment, the sources said. On [February 16], a department spokesperson said less than 50 were dismissed.
- Watchdog Drops Extra Sellafield Security Checks: A watchdog has dropped the requirement for extra security checks at the UK’s largest nuclear site. Sellafield, near Seascale in Cumbria, was under “enhanced” scrutiny by the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) for its physical security – measures against “theft and sabotage of nuclear materials”. The ONR said it could not make public what had triggered the escalation from routine monitoring due to security issues, but said the requirement was dropped following “sustained improvements”. The site remains under “significantly enhanced attention” for cyber security, the ONR added.
Emerging Technologies
- South Korean Energy Giants Ban China’s AI Tool DeepSeek Amid Security Concerns: In a significant move reflecting growing global concerns over data privacy and security, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) and KEPCO KPS have banned the use of China’s generative artificial intelligence (AI) tool, DeepSeek. This decision marks the first such action in South Korea’s public sector, underscoring the increasing scrutiny of foreign AI technologies. The ban by KHNP and KEPCO KPS, both pivotal players in South Korea’s energy infrastructure, particularly in the nuclear sector, is primarily driven by security concerns. DeepSeek has been criticized for its potential to leak data and its weak personal information protection measures. Ha Jung-woo, director of Naver Future AI Center, voiced his apprehensions on social media, stating, “Not only information on the devices used but also keyboard input patterns or rhythms, IP information, device IDs, and even cookies are entirely collected and stored on security servers located in China.” The concerns are not unfounded. Dewardric McNeal, a senior policy analyst at Longview Global, highlighted the extent of data collection possible through DeepSeek, claiming it is “20 times greater than what can be collected through Google searches.” This has raised alarms about the potential for sensitive information, especially from critical infrastructure like nuclear power plants, to be compromised.
- Warning Sent About Need for Strategic Policing Reform to Address Security Of SMRs: National Policy Statement for nuclear energy generation (EN-7) was published in draft form on February 6 following an announcement by the prime minister about the slashing of legislation around the development of nuclear energy generation projects. Prime minister Keir Starmer said, “This country hasn’t built a nuclear power station in decades. We’ve been let down, and left behind. Our energy security has been hostage to Putin for too long, with British prices skyrocketing at his whims. I’m putting an end to it – changing the rules to back the builders of this nation, and saying no to the blockers who have strangled our chances of cheaper energy, growth and jobs for far too long.” […] Recent analysis by the Alan Turing Institute’s Centre for Emerging Technology and Security said that policing capability was not up to scratch to protect SMRs. Policing SMRs would require a significant uplift in funding and workforce at the Civil Nuclear Constabulary (CNC) which is run by the Civil Nuclear Police Authority (CNPA). The CNPA is an executive non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ). Local police forces, overseen by the Home Office, could also be required to increase their capacity to respond to CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear) incidents. It is currently unclear how any resource uplift would be funded, and which bodies would provide that funding. As things stand, gigawatt-scale nuclear power sites’ security is funded by the developers themselves.
- IAEA to Host International Symposium on AI and Nuclear Energy in December: The IAEA will host the first ever International Symposium on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Nuclear Energy at its headquarters in Vienna from December 3 to 4, 2025. The Symposium will explore how nuclear energy can help meet growing electricity demand from the data centers driving AI as well as the myriad ways AI can support the nuclear power industry. With AI’s meteoric rise mirroring nuclear power’s recent and ongoing revival, this event is especially timely and will highlight the emerging nexus between the two industries. “With AI becoming increasingly integrated in society and nuclear power expansion identified as vital to making reliable, clean energy abundance a reality, there is an incredible opportunity for these industries to help maximize each other’s contributions,” said IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi. “Nuclear power reactors can provide the reliable, clean electricity needed for the sustainability of AI and other ‘big data’ applications, and at the same time, AI can optimize reactor performance, advanced fuel development and other critical areas so nuclear power can reach its full potential.” The Symposium will bring together relevant stakeholders from around the world, including high-level representatives from the nuclear and AI sectors as well as nuclear regulators. The two-day event will feature panel discussions, exhibitions and side events delving into the dual themes of ‘Powering Data Centres with Nuclear Energy’ and ‘Opportunities and Challenges for AI in the Nuclear Sector’.
Member Organization Announcements and Updates
Bellona Foundation
- Bellona has posted its November-December 2024 Nuclear Digest which reviews events related to nuclear safety in Ukraine, the involvement of the Russian nuclear industry and Rosatom corporation in these events, and its impact on international markets. Read the digest.
International Institute for Strategic Studies
- Alexander K. Bollfrass argues that Ukrainian leaders have declared the need for either NATO membership or possession of nuclear weapons for security from Russia, but that they would face several technical and political challenges in acquiring such weapons in a new piece titled “Are nuclear weapons an option for Ukraine?”. Read his analysis.
- Arms Control Poseur podcast host Dr Alexander Bollfrass is joined by leading experts Ambassador Bonnie Jenkins, Amy Woolf and Dr Rebecca Gibbons to explore the Cold War Arms race, deterrence strategies and what the future might hold for US nuclear policy. Listen to the episode.
- Arms Control Poseur podcast host Dr Alexander Bollfrass is joined by nuclear experts Lydia Wachs and Andrey Baklitskiy to explore the historical and current trajectory of Russia’s nuclear arsenal. Listen to the episode.
Third Way
- Third Way hosted a private roundtable with the US Permanent Mission in Vienna on the sidelines of the IAEA SMR Conference convening country representatives, nuclear industry, and IAEA technical staff about the key barriers to safeguards and security implementation for advanced reactors. They published a report title “Preparing Advanced Nuclear for Global Deployment,” and are looking to continue the conversation with anyone interested in the topic. Read the report.
Vienna Center for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation
- VCDNP Senior Research Associate Noah Mayhew has authored a new paper, Mitigating the Threat of Attacks on Nuclear Facilities, which provides an in-depth analysis of existing legal frameworks governing these attacks and explores avenues to reinforce them, as well as non-binding measures. Read the paper.
- VCDNP Senior Fellow Dr. Nikolai Sokov co-authored a report analyzing existing risk reduction and confidence-building mechanisms and providing practical recommendations for further development of this system to better address new and emerging security challenges. Read the report.
- The VCDNP held a webinar with former Research Intern Alexander Hoppenbrouwers, who examined the technical challenges of applying nuclear safeguards to naval nuclear propulsion under Article 14 of comprehensive safeguards agreements. VCDNP Senior Fellow Laura Rockwood joined the webinar as a commentator. Watch the webinar.
- The VCDNP hosted 23 experts from governments, international organizations, industry, and academia for an interactive workshop to explore the risks and opportunities of AI for the nuclear supply chain and the security of nuclear facilities. Find out about the workshop.
- The VCDNP and the International Affairs Institute (IAI), on behalf of the EU Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Consortium (EUNPDC), hosted an interactive webinar featuring Eva Gyane, former IAEA safeguards inspector, to explore the IAEA’s safeguards system, careers in nuclear non-proliferation, and the day-to-day work of safeguards inspectors. Watch the webinar.
Individual Member Updates
- Ali Alkis presented at the Pebble Bed and TRISO-Fueled Reactor Nonproliferation Workshop at Texas A&M University on February 6, exploring innovative approaches to nuclear security and nonproliferation for next-generation reactors. His presentation focused on hybrid verification techniques, combining statistical flow monitoring with targeted checks to track the dynamic movement of fuel. He also discussed proactive security integration, emphasizing the importance of embedding advanced security protocols into reactor design to mitigate potential vulnerabilities. Additionally, he highlighted enhanced nuclear security measures, leveraging digital and physical security advancements to address evolving challenges. Find out more.
- Artem Lazarev from the CBRN Terrorism Prevention Programme of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) shared that:
- On February 7, 2025, Ecuador deposited its instrument of ratification of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT) with the United Nations Secretary-General. On March 9, 2025, the country will become the 127th party to the Convention, which will conclude over five years of the country’s relevant cooperation with UNODC. Read about the ratification.
- On January 31, UNODC held the third event of the Virtual speaker series on ICSANT and Nuclear Terrorism, funded by the Government of Canada. Highlighting the importance of gender perspectives in the context of ICSANT, the event featured guest speakers from UNODC, Canada and Thailand, as well as the African Center for Science and International Security (AFRICSIS) and the Vienna Center for Disarmament and Non‑Proliferation (VCDNP). Watch the event.
Opportunities
- The David Rockefeller Studies Program at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) is seeking to hire a Stanton Nuclear Security Senior Fellow. The fellow will be expected to conduct original research on nuclear security policy, which includes nuclear terrorism, nuclear proliferation, and nuclear weapons, and as it relates to nuclear security, nuclear energy. This is an extraordinary opportunity for an individual looking to shape new thinking and creative policy solutions on the spread of nuclear weapons to unstable and hostile states, the collapse of arms control and risk of conflict between nuclear-armed nations, the importance of nuclear weapons in great power competition, and the impact of new technologies such as AI and quantum on the nuclear balance. Read more.
- IB3 Global Solutions is seeking talented nuclear security/nonproliferation professionals, especially around the DC area, to support various programs under some of the national labs. Specific positions are not posted but those interested should apply to IB3’s general application. Read more.
- The Partnership for Global Security (PGS) is seeking applicants for their Research Internship. The intern will primarily focus on researching nuclear security, nuclear energy, and transnational governance issues. Current research projects that interns will support include: exploring the nexus of climate change, nuclear power growth and global security; understanding the growth of nuclear energy in the Middle East and East Asia; tracking the evolution of nuclear security policies and governance structures; using existing voluntary frameworks as a model for nuclear security governance structures; and examining cybersecurity and other potential threats prompted by new technology developments. Read more.
- The Partnership for Global Security (PGS) is seeking candidates for the Della Ratta Global Energy and Security Fellowship. This is a $15,000 stipend-supported six-month position. The applicant’s term will run from January-June 2025. The Della Ratta Fellowship is a unique opportunity for early career candidates to develop the skills and experience that are necessary for a rapidly evolving technological, security, and geopolitical environment. The primary focus is on addressing the intensifying intersection of nuclear energy and commerce, climate change, global security, geopolitics, and international energy security. Read more.
- The Laboratory of Applied Nuclear Physics (LANPh) is announcing two openings at the level of a postdoc and/or research scientist. The selected scientists will have the chance to work on groundbreaking research in nuclear physics applied to problems in nuclear security, such as arms control, cargo security, and nuclear detection. The principal duties include contributing to existing projects at LANPh in leading/co-leading roles’ guiding graduate and undergraduate students in their research, designing experiments and new engineering concepts, and co-authoring papers and proposals.Read more.
- The Raymond Frankel Nuclear Security Policy Fellowship at the American Academy of Arts & Sciences provides an opportunity for an early-career professional with training in security studies or nuclear policy to learn about a career in public policy and administration. Reporting to the Chief Program Officer, the Fellow will assume primary responsibility for one or more workstreams within the Academy’s nuclear and global security portfolio. They will work in close coordination with Academy staff, the Academy’s Committee on International Security Studies (CISS), and project chairs to steward and advance the work of this program area. Read more.