SIPRI is pleased to release a new Spotlight video featuring Dr Mariana Budjeryn, Senior Researcher at the Center for Nuclear Security Policy, MIT, reflecting on the legacy of the Chornobyl disaster and the nuclear security challenges facing the international community today.
Watch the video below or click here to watch it on SIPRI’s YouTube channel.
Recorded as part of a SIPRI talk marking the 40th anniversary of the Chornobyl disaster, the conversation considers how the lessons of 1986 continue to shape debates on nuclear safety and security—particularly in light of the Russian occupation of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine.
In the interview, Dr Budjeryn reflects on the international response to Chornobyl and the lasting impact the disaster had on global nuclear governance. She also examines the growing risks posed by military activity around nuclear facilities in Ukraine, highlighting the contrast between the swift institutional action that followed Chornobyl and the limited international response to current threats against nuclear infrastructure.
The discussion offers timely insights into the pressures facing nuclear governance today, from the erosion of norms protecting nuclear facilities during armed conflict to the role international institutions can still play in preventing future crises. Dr Budjeryn also shares a perspective grounded in resilience, pointing to the perseverance of Ukrainian nuclear operators working under extraordinary conditions.
About SIPRI Spotlight
The SIPRI Spotlight series is a collection of short, on-the-spot interviews recorded during visits to SIPRI for events, seminars and workshops. The series captures a range of perspectives and viewpoints intended to stimulate further discussion. While designed as snapshots, these conversations aim to serve as starting points for continued dialogue and deeper understanding of the conditions for peaceful solutions to international conflicts and for stable peace.