The advancement of nuclear energy is supported by Ukrainians, just like Europeans, who back the construction of new nuclear power plants.

The record support for nuclear energy among the population, as noted by recent sociological surveys, reflects a European and global trend influenced by the war and the unfortunate experience of Germany, which once abandoned nuclear power plants under the sway of a pro-Russian gas lobby and is now trying to regain what it lost. More details can be found in the article.

A study published on October 2 by the "Rating" group revealed that nearly 80% of respondents consider the development of nuclear energy necessary; only 12% deem it rather unnecessary, and 5% categorically unnecessary.

Approximately 80% of those surveyed have a positive view of the initiative to complete the construction of nuclear units at the Khmelnytsky Nuclear Power Plant (41% view it very positively, and 36% rather positively). Only 17% oppose this initiative. Support for the completion of power units is particularly strong among youth and residents of the eastern regions.

This unanimous positive attitude towards nuclear energy is not an isolated phenomenon. It is characteristic of the majority of developed countries around the world, especially in Europe. The high level of support from the youth indicates their awareness, possibly even intuitive, of ecological issues and future prospects.

Ukraine has joined the Powering Past Coal Alliance coalition and has promised to abandon the use of coal (at least in state-owned thermal power plants) by 2035. Officials vow to fulfill this commitment despite the ongoing war. Currently, almost all thermal power plants in Ukraine are damaged or destroyed. The share of thermal power plants in electricity production has declined to 5%. Investing in their restoration is pointless, as the EU aims to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. Ukraine, which by that time will undoubtedly join the European community, will be forced to close all power stations that violate standards.

For Europe, the years 2035 and 2050 serve as "ecological codes," establishing precise timelines for key stages of energy decarbonization. It is clear that no alternative energy sources can sustain a reliable energy supply system, especially given the mass development of electric transport, mining, and energy-intensive data processing centers, etc. This can be reliably achieved through the expansion of nuclear power plant capacities. These are significant long-term investments that always pay off due to the low cost of nuclear electricity.

That is why public opinion studies in European countries show an increase in support for nuclear power plants, including the construction of new units. Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, this support has significantly grown.

According to a survey conducted on September 30, 2024, 53% of respondents support the Swiss government's plans to build new nuclear units. Currently, Switzerland has four reactors that produce about one-third of its electricity.

This winter, Estonian sociologists from Kantar Emor indicated that 69% of respondents favor considering the possibility of building a nuclear power plant in Estonia, marking the highest level of support since research began in 2019.

In Finland, where six reactors are operational, the research group Finnish Energy, representing around 260 Finnish companies in the energy sector, noted in 2023 that support for nuclear energy, which has been consistently measured since 1983, is now at its highest level in the history of the survey. "For" support is expressed by 68% of the population.

Czechs, according to a survey by the company IBRS, expressed support for the development of nuclear energy at 65%, and about 93% of people in the country want it to remain self-sufficient in electricity production.

At the end of 2022, France conducted a detailed study showing that nuclear energy is becoming increasingly popular among the population: 62% of respondents labeled it as cheap, while 78% believe that nuclear energy guarantees the country’s energy independence. The overwhelming majority perceive nuclear as the energy of the future (81%), clean (78%), and safe (70%).

Among the opinions expressed by the French, the most interesting is the view that nuclear energy has become a guarantee of independence. This thesis did not arise coincidentally in 2022, following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. France, like all of Europe, observed the experience of Germany, which became the only country in Europe to categorically abandon nuclear energy in 1998.

At that time, it seemed as though the government led by Chancellor Gerhard Schröder had sided with the socially popular idea of "greening the economy." However, it soon became clear that the decision to phase out nuclear power plants would necessitate other energy sources. Thus, the project for the construction of "Nord Streams" emerged. Mr. Schröder became the head of the shareholders' committee of Nord Stream AG and a board member of Gazprom (until 2022) and, as stated in Wikipedia, "a personal friend of Putin."

On the eve of the planned shutdown of the last three nuclear power plants (which was supposed to occur in 2022 but actually happened in 2023), Civey's survey results for Spiegel revealed that 78% of Germans favored extending the operation of nuclear power plants, while 41% of respondents answered affirmatively regarding building new nuclear plants. For Germany, with its tendency to support "green" initiatives, this is an exceptionally high figure.

The attitude toward nuclear energy has radically changed not only in Germany but throughout the civilized world. At the UN Climate Change Conference in Dubai in 2023, 20 countries called for a significant increase in the global capacity of nuclear power plants. Among the countries that signed the joint declaration are the USA, France, the UK, and the host country, the United Arab Emirates. This step is intended to help reduce dependence on fossil energy sources, as noted in the document.

The declaration was disseminated by the US climate envoy, former Secretary of State John Kerry. He reminded that, according to scientific data, achieving climate neutrality by 2050 will not be possible without nuclear energy. The declaration urges international financial institutions to facilitate the expansion of nuclear energy. Currently, this is prohibited by the statutes of several international banks. For example, the World Bank has not invested in the development of the industry since 1959.

The head of the IAEA, Rafael Grossi, also called for lifting restrictions on investments in nuclear energy. "I believe this position is outdated and does not meet any scientific or technological criteria," he stated.

Interestingly, China did not sign the declaration (presumably due to "solidarity" with Russia). However, it is actively constructing nearly 30 new reactors, intending to surpass France and the USA in nuclear energy production by 2030, recognizing that this is primarily the cheapest electricity for technological needs.

The USA understands this as well. Thus, funding was provided for the first-ever resumption of operations at a previously shut down nuclear power plant. The strategic partner of Energoatom, Holtec International, which is involved in implementing the project for constructing a small modular reactor (SMR) components manufacturing plant in Ukraine, received credit guarantees amounting to $1.52 billion for restarting a nuclear power plant in Michigan. It seems that renovating nuclear power plants is becoming fashionable.

NextEra, the operator of the Duane Arnold Nuclear Power Plant located in Iowa and decommissioned in 2020, also announced its intention to restart the power unit, as Facebook, Microsoft, Apple, and Google have built data centers in the state that have significant electricity needs.

France, which generates up to 70% of its electricity from 56 reactors and is the largest exporter of electricity in Europe (supplying its nuclear power to the UK and Italy), plans to expand. Preparations are underway to launch the third unit of the Flamanville Nuclear Power Plant, which will become the second nuclear unit in Europe equipped with an EPR pressurized water reactor. The first such unit operates at the Olkiluoto-3 Nuclear Power Plant in Finland, with two more EPR reactor units being constructed in the UK at Hinkley Point C.

By the way, Sweden and Finland each have six operational reactors. Slovakia has four, enough to meet 50% of its needs. The Czech Republic produces about 30% of its electricity using six reactors.

The authorities in Romania, where two nuclear power plants are operational, dream of increasing their number, but these plans are still somewhat vague. Slovenia operates one nuclear reactor in conjunction with Croatia, thus meeting 36% of its electricity needs. In Spain, about a quarter of the electricity produced comes from seven nuclear power plants, and the Spanish government is currently exploring the possibility of developing its own uranium deposits.

This may seem paradoxical, but Russia's invasion itself has become a catalyst for "pro-nuclear" sentiments in Europe. For instance, the Belgian government postponed the previously approved gradual shutdown of its nuclear power plants by ten years—from 2025 to 2035. Currently, two of the seven reactors continue to operate. To date, half of Belgium's electricity is produced by nuclear power plants.

The Netherlands has also taken similar steps—rather than moving toward a phased abandonment of nuclear energy, they are considering building