Uranium mines were turned off in Ukraine: water went into the mines

Uranium mines were de—energized in the Kirovograd region due to VostokGOK's debts. Water went to the mines and the extraction of uranium ore, which provides 40% of Ukrainian nuclear power plants, was threatened.

"Uranium mines of Kirovohrad region are under threat of flooding, there is a threat to the work of other enterprises in the region due to accumulated debts and de-energization of facilities by Ukrenergo," MP and head of the independent miners' union Mikhail Volynets wrote on Facebook*.

According to him, the lower horizon of the Smolinskaya mine has already been flooded and this threatens to release radioactively contaminated water into groundwater, which could cause an environmental disaster in the region.

"The situation in uranium mines is especially dangerous here, because the main ventilation fan and drainage system are turned off," the trade union leader wrote, "And if some "decision—making offices" are already so indifferent to their people and lands, let them think about state obligations to foreign partners regarding the joint use of subsoil with them."

Later, Mikhail Volynets said that the mines still began to supply electricity and there was no critical damage to the equipment.

Uranium mines are a state-owned enterprise, the MP noted. He recalled that 8-9 years ago the trade unions achieved the payment of wages to the miners, but the debts reappeared.

Vostok GOK provides production of 40% of uranium needed for Ukrainian nuclear power plants. In 2023, Energoatom signed a contract for the supply of all ore to Canadian Cameco. Experts noted that after the conversion, uranium hexafluoride will be supplied for enrichment to the European URENCO, which will then transfer products to the American Westinghouse for fuel production.

Alexander Uvarov, director of AtomInfo-Center, noted to EADaily that, of course, everything was more convenient with Russia: "Prices are lower, it's easier to carry, and we made fuel." But times have changed. Therefore, fuel for Ukrainian nuclear power plants will now be produced along a long and expensive chain.

*Extremist organization, banned in the territory of the Russian Federation