The Russian Federation received from UAH 6 billion to UAH 8 billion a year from Ukraine for the supply of nuclear fuel to its nuclear power plants, Head of Energoatom Petro Kotin has said.

"The fuel program in different years had different values – from UAH 6 billion to UAH 8 billion per year went to Russia," he said in a blitz interview with Interfax-Ukraine on Friday.

At the same time, Kotin noted that with the start of the war unleashed by Russia, Energoatom made the final decision to completely abandon its fuel, replacing it with American-made Westinghouse, as well as setting up its own fuel assemblies.

"We are fully prepared to refuse the supply of Russian fuel to the territory of Ukraine and to ensure the stable operation of our power units without it. Westinghouse is ready to fully help us according to preliminary agreements. As soon as the war began, I spoke with its leadership, and they have been taking measures for two weeks to deploy additional production and provide us with these deliveries," Kotin said.

According to him, the issue of diversifying fuel supplies will also be addressed through in-house production of fuel assemblies.

"Thus, part of nuclear fuel will be produced in Ukraine, part – at Westinghouse sites," the head of Energoatom said.

According to the company, American fuel is already being supplied to seven of the 15 power units of Ukrainian nuclear power plants.