From April 15 to 17, 2026, the III International Scientific and Technical Conference named after V.M. Voevodin "Problems of Modern Nuclear Energy" took place in Kharkiv. It brought together scientists, educators, representatives of the nuclear industry, and international partners to discuss key challenges and prospects for the development of nuclear energy.
The event was organized by the Ukrainian Nuclear Society, the NSC "Kharkiv Institute of Physics and Technology," and Kharkiv National University named after V.N. Karazin, with the support of JSC "NAEK "Energoatom" and the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration.
The conference was held in a hybrid format. More than 170 specialists participated, about 60 of whom attended in person on the first day. The program featured over 90 reports dedicated to current issues in the development of the nuclear sector.
The opening of the conference was attended by representatives of authorities, scientific institutions, and international organizations. Among them were Oleh Syniehubov, head of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration; Tetyana Kahanovska, rector of Kharkiv National University named after V.N. Karazin; acting general director of NSC "Kharkiv Institute of Physics and Technology," academician of the NAS of Ukraine Mykola Azarienkov; academic secretary of the Department of Nuclear Physics and Energy of the NAS of Ukraine, academician of the NAS of Ukraine Ihor Harkusha; president of the Ukrainian Nuclear Society Volodymyr Kholosha; first vice president and executive secretary of the society Danylo Lavrenov; president of the European Nuclear Society Michèle Coeck; as well as program manager of the European Nuclear Education Network Katerina Pilyugina.
The first day’s program was devoted to strategic directions for the development of nuclear energy. The focus was on creating new materials for nuclear installations, developing Ukraine’s energy complex, applying nuclear technologies in medicine, as well as issues of safety and efficiency in the operation of nuclear power plants. Separate discussions addressed the management of radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel, development of thermonuclear technologies, implementation of small modular reactors, and enhancing the country's energy resilience in wartime conditions.
An important part of the program was the Information Day of the Euratom Program in Ukraine. It covered opportunities for Ukrainian researchers to participate in European scientific and educational projects, development of international cooperation, and support for research in nuclear fission and thermonuclear fusion.
Within this block, reports were presented by Peter Haehner (senior expert, Joint Research Centre, European Commission), Cruz Darío Andrés (executive officer, FuseNet), Katerina Pilyugina (programme manager, European Nuclear Education Network), Pylyp Kuznetsov (Higher Scientific Council member of the European Nuclear Society, Karazin University), and Serhii Pugach (head of Euratom NCP in Ukraine (fission), National Science Center Kharkiv Institute of Physics and Technology). The main topics included support for scientific research, education, and professional development in nuclear fission and thermonuclear fusion.
The second day, held online, focused on technical and scientific aspects of the operation of modern nuclear energy. A significant portion of the reports concerned research on materials for nuclear installations, including alloys, zirconium materials, detectors, and fuel components. Participants presented results of neutron-physical and thermal-hydraulic calculations and considered advanced reactor technologies, including small modular reactors.
Separate discussions were dedicated to the development of Ukraine’s nuclear energy complex, including the application of nuclear forensics, research on new materials, and analysis of various reactor types. Issues of operation of circulation water supply systems, water purification methods at nuclear facilities, approaches to analyzing severe accidents, and improvements in probabilistic safety assessment methods were also discussed. Cybersecurity of information systems at nuclear power plants and organization of emergency preparedness under martial law were also key topics.
The third day was devoted to safety issues and practical aspects of nuclear energy operation. Participants reviewed modern approaches to enhancing the reliability of nuclear power plants, including modeling processes in fuel elements, controlling water-chemical regimes, and assessing personnel reliability. Special attention was given to analyzing characteristics of small modular reactors and ensuring the resilience of physical protection systems under military threats.
An important part of the program addressed extending the operational lifetimes of power units and managing aging processes of nuclear power plant equipment. Reports on nuclear, radiation, and environmental safety in handling radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel attracted significant interest. In particular, participants discussed modern dismantling technologies, radionuclide immobilization methods, radiation monitoring systems, and instrumental safety support.
Research results in the field of thermonuclear fusion and plasma technologies were also presented at the conference. On the final day, a report was delivered by Yurii Kovtun (head of the National Euratom Contact Point in Ukraine for thermonuclear fusion, NSC KhFTI) on the development of thermonuclear research and implementation of the EUROfusion program for 2026-2027. The concluding part of the conference was a session dedicated to public communication in the nuclear sector, emphasizing the importance of open dialogue with society regarding the development of nuclear energy.
The conference, dedicated to the 80th anniversary of V.M. Voevodin’s birth, became a platform for exchanging experience and forming joint approaches to the development of modern nuclear energy. The event contributed to strengthening the professional community and outlining priorities for further research and innovation implementation in the field.
According to the Department of Nuclear Physics and Energy of the NAS of Ukraine
