On March 19, 2026, the first vice-president of the NAS of Ukraine, head of the Section of Physical-Technical and Mathematical Sciences of the NAS of Ukraine, academician Vyacheslav Bogdanov, together with the acting chief scientific secretary of the NAS of Ukraine, Doctor of Philosophy Oleg Kubalsky, academician-secretary of the Department of Nuclear Physics and Energy of the NAS of Ukraine, academician Ihor Harkusha, scientific secretary of the Section of Physical-Technical and Mathematical Sciences of the NAS of Ukraine, Doctor of Technical Sciences Serhiy Bespalov, and scientific secretary of the Department of Nuclear Physics and Energy of the NAS of Ukraine, Candidate of Chemical Sciences Ihor Kocheshev, visited the Institute for Nuclear Research of the NAS of Ukraine.
The visit provided an opportunity to discuss in detail the scientific results of the institution, its experimental capabilities, and prospects for the development of research in the field of nuclear physics.
The director, academician of the NAS of Ukraine Vasyl Slisenko, spoke about the Institute’s activities, its structure, personnel potential, and key research directions.
Fundamental and applied research is carried out here in the fields of nuclear physics, elementary particle and high-energy physics, nuclear energy, radiation physics and reactor materials science, plasma physics and controlled thermonuclear fusion, as well as in the area of nuclear, radiation, and technogenic-ecological safety.
The Institute remains one of the leading centers of fundamental science, combining the development of scientific schools with the formation of new research directions in accordance with global trends and international programs, as well as performing applied work of national importance.
Unique nuclear-physical installations operate here, enabling both fundamental and applied research, including with the participation of scientists from other institutions. At the same time, their maintenance and modernization require significant capital investments.
Among the most significant scientific results obtained in recent years and recognized internationally are the results of research in the fields of high-energy physics and elementary particle physics.
In particular, the Institute’s scientists participate in the LHCb experiment at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN (Switzerland), where physical measurements are conducted on a modernized detector complex under conditions of increased luminosity of collisions of light and heavy nuclei. For achievements in the study of matter-antimatter asymmetry, the discovery of new particles, and the observation of rare processes, they have been awarded one of the most prestigious global prizes – the Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics.
Important results have also been obtained in studies of double beta decay of isotopes. In particular, the results of the study of double beta decay of molybdenum-100 are of significant importance for experimental and theoretical neutrino physics, as well as for explaining the processes that led to the baryon asymmetry of the Universe. Additionally, the unique phenomenon of double beta decay of the neodymium-150 nucleus was observed for the first time, which, if confirmed, will become an important test of theoretical models in nuclear physics and weak interaction.
Significant results have also been achieved in the fields of nuclear theory, atomic nucleus structure, nuclear reactions and spectroscopy, neutron and radiation physics, materials science, plasma physics, as well as in the areas of radioecology and radiobiology.
Alongside fundamental research, the Institute performs applied work of important national significance. In particular, scientists participate in studies on extending the safe operation periods of Ukrainian nuclear power plant units. These works are coordinated by JSC "NNEGC Energoatom" and are used for the development of long-term programs for the development of Ukraine’s nuclear energy sector.
Significant attention is paid to studying the impact of nuclear fuel cycle enterprises, including nuclear power plants, on the environment and human health. The Institute conducts regular monitoring of radionuclide activity in environmental components, calculates dose loads, and studies the radioecological condition of territories. Based on these studies, databases of radiation state parameters of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems have been formed, and maps of contamination of Ukraine’s territory by radionuclides as a result of the Chernobyl accident have been created.
To conduct expertise of nuclear and radioactive materials seized from illegal circulation, the Institute has established a Laboratory of Nuclear Forensics. It is equipped with modern radiometric, dosimetric, and spectrometric equipment and provides expert support to law enforcement agencies both at the site of material detection and during subsequent investigations. The laboratory also ensures prompt information exchange among specialists involved in combating illegal circulation of radioactive materials and participates in relevant international initiatives.
Thanks to extensive international connections, the Institute’s scientists participate in numerous international experiments and research programs, including LHCb, SuperNEMO, BOREXINO, AMoRE, CUPID-Mo, CROSS, BINGO, RES-NOVA, GAIAS, EUREKA, and others, as well as in projects under the EURIZON, EIRENE, Horizon Europe, and EURATOM programs within the EUROfusion consortium.
During the visit, the NAS of Ukraine leadership familiarized themselves with the operation of the Institute’s nuclear-physical installations and laboratories, and also communicated with the scientific teams.
They discussed further development – primarily the modernization of the experimental base, expansion of international cooperation, and opportunities for attracting and supporting young scientists.
The Institute for Nuclear Research of the NAS of Ukraine remains one of the key scientific centers of the country, combining fundamental research and applied work important for Ukraine’s energy and nuclear security.
According to information from the Institute for Nuclear Research
