VIENNA, September 22. /ITAR-TASS/. Russia is fully and timely ensuring Ukrainian nuclear power plants with fuel, nuclear power corporation Rosatom’s CEO Sergei Kiriyenko said at a conference on Monday.

“As earlier, Ukrainian nuclear plants are timely ensured with supplies of Russian nuclear fuel. All obligations are fulfilled rigorously and in full volume,” he said.

Nuclear power is a strategic industry, which should not depend on changes of political situation, Kiriyenko said.

Safety and reliability of operations of nuclear plants, including those built under Russian projects abroad, are an absolute priority for Russia, he said.

Nuclear energy in Ukraine

Ukraine imports about $600 million worth of nuclear fuel from Russia on the average annually, which is comparable with the indicators reported in first half of 2014 (279 million tonnes).

Nuclear power occupies one of the most prominent places in the Ukrainian economy. Over recent years, having only 22.8% of the installed capacity, nuclear power plants during autumn and winter maximum loads generated about 53% of the country's electricity. Currently there are 15 operating power units at four Ukrainian NPPs.

They are operated by the state-run company Energoatom.