Nuclearizing Ukraine – Ukrainizing the Atom
Journal: Cahiers du monde russe
Year: 2019

Soviet nuclear technology, as a socio‑technical system, was an imperial technology. It was regarded as a cornerstone in “large technological system”‑based integration projects within and beyond the Soviet Union. Soviet Ukraine played an important role in this endeavor, and nuclearizing the republic stabilized its status as secunda inter pares in ruling the Soviet Union. Nuclearization was also aligned with Kyiiv’s resource distribution interests. Soviet Ukraine’s nuclear capacities, moreover, we