Ukraine — Nuclear Fleet Overview

Operating Reactors (database): 1 tracked in platform Total Tracked Capacity: see fleet summary Under Construction (database): 0 Planned: 0 Regulatory Body: SNRIU (State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine)

Fleet Summary

Ukraine's nuclear power industry is a critical component of its energy sector, with nuclear energy providing over 50% of the country's electricity. The fleet consists of 15 operational power reactors across four nuclear power plants—Zaporizhzhia (6 units), Rivne (4 units), Khmelnytskyi (2 units), and South Ukraine (3 units)—totaling approximately 13.1 GWe of net capacity. Despite challenges from the ongoing conflict and the 1986 Chernobyl disaster, Ukraine maintains a significant reliance on nuclear power, with efforts to sustain and modernize its aging Soviet-era VVER reactors. Future plans focus on extending reactor lifetimes and exploring new builds to bolster energy security.

Policy & Outlook

Ukraine's nuclear policy prioritizes energy independence and decarbonization, with nuclear power as a cornerstone of its energy strategy. The government, through Energoatom, the state-owned nuclear operator, aims to extend the operational life of existing reactors beyond their original design limits, with several units already receiving license extensions. Legislation supports integration with European energy markets, including synchronization with the ENTSO-E grid, achieved in 2022, to reduce reliance on Russian energy systems. There are also discussions on small modular reactors (SMRs) as a potential future option, with preliminary agreements signed with Western companies like Holtec International to explore deployment.

Key Sites

• Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant: Located in Enerhodar, it is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe with 6 VVER-1000 reactors, providing a net capacity of about 5.7 GWe, though operations have been disrupted due to the ongoing conflict.
• Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant (Decommissioned): Site of the catastrophic 1986 disaster, now under long-term decommissioning and home to the New Safe Confinement structure, it remains a focal point for international nuclear safety efforts.
• WWR-M (Kyiv): A research reactor operated by the Institute for Nuclear Research, NASU, this operational pool-type reactor supports scientific studies and isotope production.

Historical Context

Ukraine's nuclear journey began in the Soviet era, with the first reactor at Chernobyl coming online in 1977, marking the start of a significant nuclear program. The 1986 Chernobyl disaster, involving Reactor 4, remains the worst nuclear accident in history, leading to widespread environmental and health impacts, and shaping global nuclear safety standards. Post-independence in 1991, Ukraine inherited a substantial nuclear fleet and has since focused on improving safety and operational standards with international support. The decommissioning of Chernobyl’s remaining units by 2000 and ongoing efforts to manage the site highlight Ukraine’s complex nuclear legacy.

Operating Reactors (Platform Database)

Reactor	Site	Type	Capacity (MWe)	Operator	Commercial Operation
WWR-M (Kyiv)	—	Pool	—	Institute for Nuclear Research, NASU	—

Under Construction (Platform Database)

None in database.

Sources

• IAEA PRIS — Ukraine — IAEA Power Reactor Information System
• WNA Country Profile — World Nuclear Association
• SNRIU (State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine) — National nuclear regulator

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Enriched by Grok · Second Atomic Age Nuclear Wiki · 2026-05-10