Event

REGISTER HERE! (No registration needed for digital participation.)

From nuclear deterrence and disarmament to the protection of civilian nuclear facilities and the risk of proliferation, nuclear issues are again moving to the forefront of global security debates. The war in Ukraine has underscored how vulnerable nuclear infrastructure can become in conflict, while rising geopolitical tensions and new entrants to civilian nuclear technology raise fresh questions about safety, governance, and accountability.

In this seminar, Pavel Podvig, director of the Russian Strategic Nuclear Forces project, will explore how open and transparent scientific analysis can inform policy debates on these challenges. Podvig is one of the world’s leading independent experts on Russia’s nuclear complex and global arms control. He has advised international organizations and governments and has contributed to United Nations initiatives on nuclear disarmament verification and to research on transparency and non-proliferation.

Drawing on his long experience in open-source research, Podvig will address a range of critical issues, focusing on Russia in the context of global developments:

• The status and evolution of nuclear weapons inventories, arms control agreements and deterrence postures;
• The risks facing civilian nuclear facilities in conflict zones; and the capabilities of international structures to prevent and handle the seizure of civilian nuclear facilities;
• The expansion of civilian nuclear programs and the potential for proliferation;
• The danger of nuclear materials being lost, stolen, or misused;
• The effectiveness — and consequences — of sanctions on states pursuing technological capabilities for nuclear weapons;
• The global community’s ability and options to reduce these risks – and how to improve global governance.

Following the presentation, there will be a conversation between Pavel Podvig and Kjølv Egeland (senior research scientist, NORSAR) on how the international community can reduce nuclear risks and sustain dialogue on arms control and non-proliferation. The discussion will conclude with an open Q&A moderated by Julie Wilhelmsen (Research Professor, NUPI).

This event is co-hosted by the National network for competence on Russia (RUSSNETT) and Bellona. It is held at NUPI and streamed live to our YouTube channel (no registration needed for digital participation). A light breakfast is served from 08.30 AM.

 

Related projects

Research project

2025 (Ongoing)

National network for competence on Russia (RUSSNETT 2025)

The national network for competence on Russia aims to preserve and further develop Norwegian knowledge of Russia across sectors in Norway. ...

• Russia and Eurasia

• Russia and Eurasia