Ukrainian Sanctions List to Include the Institute of Nuclear Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences

The Ministry of Environmental Protection of Ukraine granted a special permit to the Institute of Nuclear Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences to use the subsoil of the Artemivsk rock salt field, located in the Donetsk region, for 20 years in 2007. Statewatch organisation reports this referring to the State Service of Geology and Subsoil letter to the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine.

It notes that the permit provides for the construction and operation of underground structures not related to the extraction of minerals, in particular, for underground storage of oil, gas, and other substances and materials, harmful substances and industrial waste storage, as well as wastewater discharge.

The Geological Survey has indicated that the holder of the special permit is a resident of the Russian Federation, so it must be included in the sanctions list. The State Service for Geology and Subsoil asked the National Security and Defence Council to impose sanctions against the institute.

The decree on the economic restrictions’ introduction against Russian business in Ukraine was last updated on 14 May 2020. The Institute of Nuclear Research of the Russian Federation was not included in it.

Bohdan Marusyak