Budanov raised issue of acquiring reactors for Khmelnytskyi NPP in Bulgaria

Renewed application for Russian equipment

Ukraine has once again approached Bulgaria with a request to purchase Russian nuclear reactors intended for the unfinished Belene power plant. Local media report that the topic of supplying this equipment and gas transit was among the key issues during the meeting with Kyrylo Budanov.

Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev confirmed that Kyiv had resubmitted a request to buy these reactors.

History of the initiative and political resistance

The idea of using Russian reactors to complete the construction of the Khmelnytskyi Nuclear Power Plant (KhNPP) was previously actively supported by former Energy Minister Herman Hlushchenko. It is worth noting that he is currently a subject of the "Midas" criminal case.

Such an initiative provoked a harsh reaction from some Bulgarian politicians. They called the KhNPP completion project a potential corruption scheme.

Sofia's previous refusal

Last April, Bulgaria had already refused to sell these reactors. The country's government justified its position by stating that the equipment is a component of Bulgaria's energy independence.