Interview: From Anti-Nuclear to Eco-Pragmatism

On the anniversary of nuclear power's most well known -but least understood- tragedy, we talk to a former anti-nuclear leader, now WePlanet Ukraine founder, Sergii Kurykin.

— Serhii Kurykin Reflects on Chornobyl, Change, and Ukraine’s Future

Serhii Kurykin is a Ukrainian environmental leader and former Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources. A co-founder of the Green World association and the Party of Greens of Ukraine, he has served as an MP, a member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, and later as Deputy Minister of Ecology. Today, he is a freelance consultant on environmental policy and co-founder of WePlanet Ukraine.

WePlanet: Serhii, this month marks the anniversary of the Chornobyl disaster. You witnessed it first-hand in Kyiv. Can you take us back to that moment?

Serhii Kurykin: It’s something you never forget. At first, there was silence. Absolute silence from the authorities. It was only two days later that the government admitted — in just three vague sentences — that an "accident" had occurred. No details. No real warning.Instead of facts, we had rumors. Instead of protection, we had panic. People fled Kyiv. Rightly so, because radiation levels had risen sharply. Only the wind saved us from something even worse. But the government cared more about appearances. They forced a massive May 1st demonstration. I watched it with my own eyes — thousands of people, unknowingly parading under a radioactive cloud.

WePlanet: You describe Chornobyl not just as a technical disaster, but as a political one.

Serhii Kurykin: Absolutely. Chornobyl shattered illusions about Gorbachev's "perestroika." It showed that despite the rhetoric of reform, the system’s real instincts were secrecy, denial, and control. It revealed how much people's lives were expendable to maintain the image of strength. The explosion released not just radioactive particles — it also unleashed a deep distrust that helped fuel Ukraine’s push for independence.

WePlanet: How did the disaster impact your own activism?

Serhii Kurykin: Chornobyl was the catalyst. In 1987, we founded the Ukrainian Environmental Association "Zelenyi Svit" — Green World. It was the first officially registered nationwide environmental organization. It became the umbrella for dozens of small groups committed to environmental and democratic change. Later, in 1990, some of us founded the Party of Greens of Ukraine. But at its core, this wasn’t just an environmental movement. It was about democracy. About truth. The Soviet government’s handling of Chornobyl taught us: you cannot separate ecological safety from political freedom.

WePlanet: After such a profound experience, what led you to rethink your stance on nuclear energy?

Serhii Kurykin: Life has a way of surprising you. Less than twenty years after the catastrophe, I was asked to head the Public Council of the State Nuclear Regulation Committee. It’s a voluntary board made up of NGOs and independent experts. Its goal is to bring more transparency to nuclear regulation. When I started, I carried all my old biases. For me — like for many environmentalists — being anti-nuclear was almost sacred. I expected constant conflict with the nuclear establishment. But instead, something different happened.

WePlanet: What did you discover?

Serhii Kurykin: First, the people. There are no "accidental" professionals in the nuclear field. Those who work there are exceptionally educated, extremely dedicated, and fully aware of the immense responsibility they bear. You don’t survive in this field otherwise. Second, the systems. When nuclear plants are properly built and properly managed, they are remarkably safe. Routine operations are designed with prevention in mind. Constant vigilance is part of daily life at a nuclear plant. The Chornobyl reactor — the RBMK-1000 — was deeply flawed, partly because it was dual-use: designed for both civil and military purposes. Modern reactors are different. Lessons have been learned.

WePlanet: How did your views evolve after those years working inside the system?

Serhii Kurykin: Five years in the Public Council changed me profoundly. I realized that rejecting nuclear energy outright doesn’t protect the environment — it risks it. Of course, my journey was personal. But Ukrainian society evolved too. We cancelled the moratorium on new nuclear plants in 1993. We shut down Chornobyl’s remaining reactors by 2000.And we started working closely with Western partners to rebuild trust and improve standards. Ukraine’s nuclear sector became something different — something better.

WePlanet: Today, how does Ukraine view nuclear energy?

Serhii Kurykin: Nuclear power is a pillar of our energy resilience. Our Energy Strategy until 2035 plans for a 50/50 mix between nuclear and renewables. That tells you how far we’ve come. Ukrainians have lived through war, blackouts, and Russian missile strikes. They understand — painfully — the value of secure, low-carbon electricity. Nuclear isn’t just tolerated now. It's supported, because it’s essential.

WePlanet: Are there still challenges ahead for nuclear in Ukraine?

Serhii Kurykin: Absolutely. The big questions today are about how to move forward, not whether we should. How can we use spent nuclear fuel more effectively? How can we reduce water consumption at plants? How should we integrate new technologies like Small Modular Reactors? And how do we make sure nuclear complements renewables, not competes with them? Joining the EU will open doors to cooperation, funding, and innovation. Together with Europe, Ukraine can build a safer, cleaner future.

WePlanet: You mentioned a different kind of fear now — not from technology, but from war.

Serhii Kurykin: Yes. Today, our nuclear fears are not about reactor safety. They're about Russian missiles. About terrorism. One strike on an NPP could be catastrophic. But that’s not an argument against nuclear energy — it’s an argument against war. It reminds us that the real enemy isn’t technology. It’s violence, secrecy, and tyranny — the same forces that created Chornobyl.

WePlanet: Serhii, your journey from anti-nuclear activism to eco-pragmatism is powerful. What would you say to young environmentalists today?

Serhii Kurykin: I would tell them: Don't be afraid to change. Be loyal to the truth, not to slogans. Trust science. Look at real risks, real benefits, and real opportunities. And always remember — if we want a safe, thriving planet, we need every tool available. Including nuclear energy.