CND Press Digest: Thursday 29th June 2023

War In Ukraine/NATO

• IISS on the wartime weaponisation of nuclear power plants.
• Open Democracy on why Ukrainian nuclear experts say an accident at the Russia-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant would be “almost impossible” without planning.
• The Times: “The residents of Asipovichy, Belarus, are probably not nimby types.But even they may be uneasy about the latest addition to the local scene: a planned encampment for thousands of Wagner fighters leaving the battlefield in Ukraine to join their mutinous leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, in his new digs. On the other hand, Asipovichy is used to unusual visitors. The locale is also home to a Soviet-era nuclear weapons base and could, if President Putin is to be believed, host Russian warheads again in the near future. A bunch of nukes and a demob-happy gang of murderous mutineers — what could possibly go wrong?”
• The FT reports on how Western countries are exploring contingencies in the aftermath of Yevgeny Prigozhin’s attempted insurrection in Russia, including the threat to nuclear stockpiles from an unstable regime in Moscow.

AUKUS

• Defense One: The United States is open to allowing more countries to participate in the technological side of AUKUS, but they would have to show they can contribute in meaningful ways, officials said Monday.
• A report by a Canadian Senate committee has called on Ottawa to make efforts to join the non-nuclear component of AUKUS, as well as investing in new submarines capable of operating in the Arctic.

UK Nuclear Weapons

• News item on CND’s website about HMS Victorious entering Babcock’s dockyard for a multi-million pound refit.

UK Nuclear Energy

• New Civil Engineer and My Local Lincolnshire on the new study to find a nuclear waste dump in Lindcolnshire.

Nuclear Energy

• From The Daily Mail (who else?): Heavily-pregnant pro-nuclear energy campaigner rubs baby bump against container of “spicy” radioactive waste to prove it is safe.
• An European Parliament committee on Wednesday backed new EU renewable energy targets, but criticised last-minute changes offering France and other countries possible carve-outs for ammonia plants and greater recognition of nuclear energy.
• Belgium has hopes can be concluded in the autumn.

Iran Nuclear Deal

• USA Today reports that Iran and the US are close to an informal deal which includes Iran’s nuclear programme, prisoner swaps, and violence in the Middle East region.

Japan

• A Japanese populist looking to become the main political opposition has called for the country to have a greater say in any nuclear use by the US made in Tokyo’s defence. Nobuyuki Baba, however, does align with some of the ruling party’s new defence policies such as plans to amend the pacifist constitution to give official recognition to the armed forces and build a stronger military equipped with longer-range missiles to deter China and North Korea.

Best,

Pádraig McCarrick

Press and Communications Officer

Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament