In response to Russia's aggression against Ukraine, the West has taken measures to limit Moscow's revenues from the sale of oil and gas - from US President Donald Trump's imposition of tariffs on purchases of Russian oil from India to the European Union's (EU) pledge to completely stop importing Russian gas by November 2027. However, one energy sector of the Russian Federation has avoided serious sanctions: nuclear energy. “Nuclear energy is not as large-scale as the oil and gas business, which is why it has not attracted as much attention so far,” says expert Sebastian Stir.
It's not just about revenue
Russia is expanding its global presence in the nuclear sphere through the state nuclear corporation “Rosatom” and its subsidiaries. The company not only provides financing or technological support, but also exports complex solutions for nuclear power plants - from the construction of infrastructure to the supply of nuclear installations that ensure the production of electricity. "Russia is extremely interested in preserving this business, as it brings significant revenues," says Shtir. The "Rosatom" report for 2024 states that "revenue from foreign projects increased by 10% compared to the previous year and reached 15.5 billion euros."
This figure pales in comparison with revenues from oil and gas. In 2024, despite sanctions, the country exported oil and gas, the revenues from which were more than six times higher than those of "Rosatom". However, the role of the Russian nuclear sector cannot be assessed solely by revenues. While Finland quickly terminated its contract with Rosatom after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russian-backed nuclear projects continue in other countries, such as the Rupur NPP in Bangladesh, El-Dabaa in Egypt, and Balkhash in Kazakhstan. Construction also continues within the EU, at Hungary's Paks II NPP and the Akkuyu NPP in NATO member Turkey. “This is the result of a long-term strategy to strengthen positions in these markets”, said Stir.
Russia as a counterweight to the West in the Global South and East
Mark Hibbs, a senior fellow in the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and Security’s Nuclear Policy Program, says Russia is trying to position itself as a country that is different from the West. “The Russians will be honest market participants... They will not try to impose political rhetoric on countries interested in their economic and technological development”, he explains Moscow’s position.
In September 2025, President Vladimir Putin reaffirmed this message during World Atomic Week, expressing support for the nuclear ambitions of “countries of the Global South and East” and rejected the notion of “technological colonialism”. “The Russian government has understood that this is an asset that Russia can use for its own further development,” says Hibbs.
Beyond the simple energy supply
Buying nuclear power systems from Russia implies the conclusion of long-term support and cooperation agreements that can last “at least four to six decades,” explains Chia-Yun Po, a lawyer specializing in arms control, nuclear non-proliferation and international law. “Thanks to this nuclear diplomacy, Russia maintains long-term relationships with other governments,” he notes.
University of Johannesburg professor Harmut Winkler argues that other countries are already responding diplomatically to Russia's expansion into nuclear markets. "When Russia builds a nuclear power plant, it practically means that it holds the key to the country's electricity supply," the expert said. He recalled how similar countries voted at the UN after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. "They are always inclined to either abstain or at least not take a hostile position towards Russia," Winkler stressed.
Russia's control over enriched uranium
In the period from 2013 to 2023, the Russian Federation exported enriched uranium worth $20.5 billion. The UK and the Netherlands are in second and third place by a wide margin, exporting $10.6 billion and $9.5 billion respectively. This dominance gives Russia significant leverage, as securing nuclear fuel is a multi-step process.
Any company working in the nuclear energy field "first has to buy uranium, then find a company to enrich it, and finally find a company to produce fuel elements," says Sebastian Stir.
Attempt to reduce dependence on Russian nuclear fuel
Chia-Yun Po says: “The US acknowledges that it is “highly dependent on foreign sources” in nuclear energy, including Russia. Stir noted that Western countries, including the US, are actively taking steps to overcome this dependence. For example, in September 2024, the US announced plans to build a new uranium enrichment plant in the state of Tennessee.
The law banning the import of uranium from Russia came into force in August 2024. But this does not mean that the US has completely abandoned such supplies. Exceptions are possible until the end of 2027 and ensure that the critically important fuel for reactors will continue to flow to the US during the transition period.
The severance of ties with Russian nuclear supplies is also a problem for the EU. On 26 January 2026, the European Commission announced a plan to end energy imports from Russia. The wording regarding the Russian nuclear sector appears less ambitious than that for gas and oil. The EC noted that “the aim is to replace Russian nuclear fuel, the last remaining Russian energy source still imported into the EU, with fuel from European sources where possible”.
Authors: Emi Sasipornkarn | Vitaly Kropman