Shoigu says Russia’ll consider nuclear risks if small US reactors in Armenia enter practical phase

Russia will have to take into account new nuclear safety risks if the construction of small reactors using US technology in Armenia enters a practical phase, Sergey Shoigu, Secretary of the Russian Security Council, told RIA Novosti.

On Monday, following his visit to Armenia, US Vice President JD Vance announced that the United States would supply Armenia with small modular reactors as part of a nuclear energy agreement.

“As is well known, Armenia is a seismically active region. The unique foundation technology used by Soviet engineers when constructing the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant allowed it to withstand the devastating 1988 earthquake, and one energy unit remains operational to this day… If the construction of small reactors using US technology in Armenia enters a practical phase, we — like all other states in the region, and the Armenian people themselves — will have to consider these new nuclear safety risks,” Shoigu said.