On April 25, 2026, in Kyiv, as part of the art and technology exhibition "Chernobyl. 40 Years Later. A History That Obligates," created on the initiative of the State Agency of Ukraine for the Exclusion Zone Management and with financial support from the European Union, the third national award ceremony for the industry award "Women in Nuclear Energy of Ukraine" ("Women in Nuclear Award 2026") took place. The winner in the category "Woman Innovator" was Irina Romanenko, a Category I engineer of the Materials and Modeling Sector for Nuclear Installations at the Institute for Safety Problems of Nuclear Power Plants of the NAS of Ukraine.
The honorary award was given to Irina Romanenko for the results of scientific research in the field of nuclear and radiation safety aimed at improving the effectiveness of biological protection against radiation exposure.
The industry award "Women in Nuclear Energy of Ukraine" was established by WiN Ukraine (a professional community uniting women and partners of Ukraine's nuclear industry and working on the development of professional leadership, visibility of women in STEM, and gender equality in the nuclear field) — the national representation of the global organization Women in Nuclear (WiN) Global — to recognize the significant contribution of women to the development of nuclear energy, ensuring nuclear and radiation safety, radioactive waste management, scientific research, education, safety culture formation, and international cooperation. This year, the award partners included the State Agency of Ukraine for the Exclusion Zone Management, the Ukrainian Nuclear Society, Atomprofspilka, and the Norwegian radiation authority DSA. The award was dedicated to the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster to honor the contribution of women to the development of the nuclear industry and to raise the significance of their achievements. A total of 88 representatives from 24 organizations participated in the competition for the award, competing in 15 categories. In addition to the main award, certificates were also presented at the ceremony for professional contribution and personal example in shaping the modern role of women in nuclear energy. Overall, specialists from the Joint Stock Company "National Nuclear Energy Generating Company Energoatom," the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine, the State Agency of Ukraine for the Exclusion Zone Management, the State Specialized Enterprise "Radon Association," the State Specialized Enterprise "Central Radioactive Waste Management Enterprise," the State Specialized Enterprise "Chernobyl NPP," the State Enterprise "Ukrainian State Production Enterprise ISOTOPE," the State Enterprise "Eastern Mining and Processing Plant," the State Specialized Enterprise "Ecocenter," the Limited Liability Company "Energy Safety Group," the National Technical University of Ukraine "Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute," the National University "Lviv Polytechnic," and Vinnytsia National Technical University received awards.
We sincerely congratulate our colleague Irina Romanenko on this high recognition and wish her new professional achievements!
More about the results of the "Women in Nuclear Award 2026"
According to information from the Institute for Safety Problems of Nuclear Power Plants of the NAS of Ukraine
Photo: WiN Ukraine and the Institute for Safety Problems of Nuclear Power Plants of the NAS of Ukraine