Bulgaria Halts Sale of Nuclear Reactors to Ukraine Amid Energy Security Concerns

Bulgaria has officially decided not to sell two nuclear reactors to Ukraine that were intended for the Khmelnytskyi Nuclear Power Plant, according to Deputy Prime Minister Atanas Zafirov. The decision, which has the backing of the ruling coalition, is driven by the need to focus on Bulgaria's own energy security amid rising global electricity prices. This reversal jeopardizes the construction of two new units at the Belene Nuclear Power Plant, as the funding was partly reliant on the planned sale to Ukraine. The reactors, originally made by Russia, were to be sold for over 600 million euros, a deal that was previously supported by the Ukrainian parliament. Zafirov emphasized the strategic importance of maintaining the reactors for Bulgaria's energy independence, stating that selling them would have been a grave mistake. While parliamentary confirmation is still pending, the government coalition stands firm on this decision amid ongoing discussions of energy policy in the region.