The Committee on Environmental Policy and Nature Management held a meeting with the representatives of the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority (SSM)
27 November 2025, 10:12
At the beginning of the meeting, Committee Chairman Oleh Bondarenko thanked the delegation representatives, the entire people of the Kingdom of Sweden, the Government of the Kingdom of Sweden and the Parliament of the Kingdom of Sweden for their invaluable support to Ukraine and their concern for the urgent problems of our state.
Since the start of the full-scale unprovoked war by the russian federation against Ukraine, the Government of the Kingdom of Sweden was one of the first to respond to Ukraine's request for assistance with the security needs of nuclear facilities, facilities designed for the management of radioactive waste, uranium facilities, etc.
In addition, Committee Chairman O. Bondarenko emphasised that such meetings are the best communication tool for forming the basis of close Ukrainian-Swedish cooperation, which has been historically forged in both Sweden and Ukraine by overcoming armed challenges and eliminating the negative consequences of military actions on the environment.
The Swedish Radiation Safety Authority (SSM) is an internationally recognised leading regulatory authority for nuclear and radiation safety, with a successful track record of regulating Sweden's advanced nuclear sector through the effective establishment and enforcement of safety requirements in the field of nuclear energy use.
SSM Director General Michael Knochenhauer told the meeting that SSM reports to the Swedish Ministry of Climate and Entrepreneurship and has authority from the Swedish Government in the areas of nuclear safety, radiation protection, security and non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. SSM works proactively and preventively to protect the population and the environment from the undesirable effects of radiation, now and in the future. Approximately 380 employees with experience in fields such as engineering, natural sciences, law, economics and communications constantly strive for development through continuous improvement based on established standards to maintain the quality and standards of protection of the natural and industrial environment.
In addition, SSM representatives communicate effectively with the environmental community and non-governmental organisations, and eco-activists, providing explanatory measures to inform the public about the state of radiation safety and seeking consensus on controversial opinions regarding the construction of new nuclear facilities, convincing them that alarming warnings can turn into profits for local communities and the population of a particular region of Sweden.
Oleh Korikov, Chairman of the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine and Chief State Inspector for Nuclear and Radiation Safety of Ukraine, who was present at the meeting, thanked SSM for its comprehensive technical, advisory and educational support. «This is a major contribution to strengthening the capabilities of the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate, enabling us to perform our functions in the difficult conditions of war. We are interested in exchanging experience, training and improving the qualifications of our specialists, and today we are successfully cooperating in these areas. Sweden is a successful example for us in many aspects of regulatory policy in the field of nuclear energy safety,» added Korikov.
At the end of the meeting, SSM Director General Michael Knochenhauer noted that the Swedish regulator is interested in continuing communication and expanding cooperation between countries, as well as studying Ukraine's experience in regulatory activities, which Ukrainians have gained even during a full-scale war.
Committee Chairman Oleh Bondarenko confirmed the need to develop close cooperation and exchange of experience aimed at applying best European practices and harmonising Ukrainian legislation with the EU acquis on our country's path to European integration, in particular in accordance with the Committee's remit, in the field of radiation safety, the legal regime for areas of radioactive contamination, including as a result of the Chernobyl disaster.
The Committee Chairman paid particular attention to his idea from 2019 about the need to develop the Chernobyl Radiation and Ecological Biosphere Reserve and the area around the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant as a powerful scientific hub, where facts would be confirmed about how nature successfully cooperates with the atom, renews itself and overcomes man-made disasters. All these initiatives are aimed at the development, preservation, restoration and balanced use of Ukraine's valuable natural resources and, in general, at protecting Ukrainians.
