Since the beginning of the war, Ukrainian authorities have reported the loss of regulatory control over more than 1,500 radioactive sources. These materials are extremely dangerous, and pose serious risks to both people and the environment. Moreover, the possibility of some of these radioactive materials falling into the wrong hands could have devastating consequences for the region and beyond.
From 9 to 13 October 2023, within the framework of its “CONTACT – Black Sea” project, a team of UNICRI’s experts conducted a 5-day Train-the-Trainers (TTT) course in Kyiv for operatives and instructors from the Security Service and the State Border Guards Service of Ukraine. The training focused on discussing methods to collect, analyze, and act upon intelligence information to intercept smugglers of radiological and nuclear materials.
The experience and the commitment of Ukrainian nuclear security practitioners greatly contributed to the success of the training and created an atmosphere of trust and mutual learning between UNICRI and Ukrainian experts. As a result of the five-day training, UNICRI and Ukrainian officers elaborated a roadmap to design tailored training programs to be offered by training centers and academies of the Security Services and Border Guards.
UNICRI will continue engaging with Ukrainian public security agencies through the provision of additional specialized courses over the next months, with the ultimate objective of equipping instructors to provide high-quality training to security officers, thereby enhancing radiological security in the country and in the whole region.
Background Information
On 1st June 2020, UNICRI officially launched the project “CONTACT - Black Sea: Enhancing capacities to prevent the trafficking of radiological and nuclear (RN) materials in the Black Sea region.” The project aims to enhance the capacities of security and law enforcement officials in Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine to prevent and counter trafficking of radiological and nuclear materials. It also aims to foster regional cooperation and the exchange of information on incidents related to RN trafficking. The project is implemented by UNICRI and is jointly funded by the United Kingdom Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (UK DESNZ), the Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (DSA), and the U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA).
