Bulgaria Considers Reactor Sale to Ukraine for Khmelnytskyi Nuclear Plant

Talks on Reactor Sale for Khmelnytskyi Nuclear Plant

According to Главком: Bulgaria is in discussions about potentially selling nuclear reactors to Ukraine for the completion of the Khmelnytskyi Nuclear Power Plant (NPP). The interim Bulgarian Prime Minister, Andrey Gurov, announced this during a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv. This potential deal comes as Bulgaria prepares for elections in three weeks, and any transfer of reactor assets would require approval from the Bulgarian parliament.

Gurov emphasized that the issue of selling the reactors is not merely financial but primarily political, as the decision hinges on parliamentary support.

“I do not think the price is the main issue at the moment. The question is that Bulgaria has elections in three weeks, so our interim government's main task is to prepare fair and honest elections,” he stated.

Ukraine's Infrastructure and Energy Independence

In turn, President Zelenskyy highlighted that Ukraine possesses the necessary infrastructure for this project.

“Why? We have nuclear power plants, everything is designed for this. Russia has occupied six nuclear generation units. This energy is sufficiently cheap in Ukraine; it could help Ukrainians and also be exported to other countries, including Central and Eastern Europe and Moldova,” he noted.

In May, the Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers allocated UAH 7.1 billion for the restoration of the country's energy system. Furthermore, completing the third power unit at the Khmelnytskyi NPP could take 2.5 to 3 years, while constructing the fourth unit may require up to four years. To initiate construction, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine passed draft law No. 11392, which the president signed on March 30, 2026. This legislation permits the purchase of Russian-designed reactors from Bulgaria for the completion of two power units at the Khmelnytskyi NPP.

Thus, the question of the reactor sale for the Khmelnytskyi NPP remains open and depends on the political situation in Bulgaria and the support of its parliament. This discussion underscores the importance of international cooperation in the energy sector, particularly for rebuilding Ukraine's energy infrastructure following the war. The successful implementation of this project would mark a significant step toward strengthening Ukraine's energy independence and could enhance economic relations between Ukraine and Bulgaria.

As Bulgaria and Ukraine strengthen their ties, the recent discussions on reactor sales are just one aspect of a broader collaboration. This partnership aims to enhance energy security and infrastructure development across both nations. To explore the key areas of cooperation established between Ukraine and Bulgaria, you can read more about their strategic agreement here.