Russia Terminates Nuclear Accident Notification Agreement with Sweden

Russia has officially ended the nuclear accident notification agreement with Sweden, originally signed after the Chernobyl disaster to ensure mutual information sharing in the event of nuclear incidents. The Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Maria Zakharova, cited Sweden’s “systematic breaches” of the agreement as the reason for the termination, stating that Russia had repeatedly requested information about Swedish nuclear power plants without receiving responses, with the latest request made in 2024.
The Swedish Radiation Safety Authority (SSM) responded by noting that it had suspended all cooperation projects with Russia following the invasion of Ukraine, redirecting its focus toward collaboration with Ukraine, Moldova, and Armenia. Despite this, Sweden had not sought to terminate the agreement, emphasizing the importance of maintaining open channels for nuclear safety information exchange.
SSM also highlighted that both Sweden and Russia remain parties to the broader international Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident, which requires countries to inform others about nuclear emergencies.
The end of this bilateral agreement marks a significant shift in nuclear safety cooperation between the two nations amid growing geopolitical tensions.