Fears Australian uranium could be seized by Russia for nuclear weapons arsenal

Scott Morrison has been urged to act over fears Australian uranium could be used to fuel Russia’s nuclear arsenal.

The Electrical Trades Union of Australia has called on Scott Morrison to take immediate action over Australian uranium in Ukraine, which analysts believe could be seized by Russia and used to fuel its nuclear weapons arsenal.

In a letter sent to the Prime Minister this week, the ETU highlighted its concerns over Australian obligated nuclear material (AONM) which has been transferred to Ukraine under the Australia-Ukraine Nuclear Cooperation Agreement.

The ETU is urging the Prime Minister to reveal details on any contingency plans set in place following Russia’s invasion, as the Australian government has an “obligation to create a plan for the removal of nuclear material if it is at risk of a loss of regulatory control”.

The ETU has also requested information on whether uranium that was transferred to Ukraine is still stored in the besieged nation.

“Amongst many other horrors, the war in Ukraine is painfully highlighting the inherent problems with nuclear power,” ETU National Assistant Secretary Michael Wright said.

“If Russia is able to gain control of Australian uranium in Ukraine, the fallout could be catastrophic.

“Australians have a right to know if Australian uranium is at risk and what our nation’s obligations are in the event of an incident.

“We not only have an obligation under our own agreement with Ukraine but we owe it to the global community to ensure these materials are protected – preferably by leaving them in the ground.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been urged to provide an update on Australian uranium sent to Ukraine.

‘If Russia is able to gain control of Australian uranium in Ukraine, the fallout could be catastrophic.’

It came as Russian President Vladimir Putin was accused of using nuclear “blackmail” to keep the international community from interfering in his Ukraine invasion.

“This is one of the scariest moments really when it comes to nuclear weapons,” Beatrice Fihn, who leads the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, told AFP in an interview on Tuesday.

The 40-year-old, who has spearheaded the group’s global efforts to ban the weapons of mass destruction since 2013, said she had never in her lifetime seen the nuclear threat level so high.“It is incredibly worrying and overwhelming.”

Just days after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of its pro-Western neighbour on February 24, Putin ordered his country’s nuclear forces to be put on high alert, sparking global alarm.

Russia’s close ally Belarus also carried out a vote that could see Putin’s nuclear weapons stockpile drastically increase.

Addressing the US Congress on Tuesday, Avril Haines, US Director of National Intelligence, described Putin’s move as “extremely unusual”.

“We have not seen a public announcement from the Russians regarding a heightened nuclear alert status since the 1960s,” she pointed out.

Fihn described the move as “extremely dangerous”.

“Not only is this meant to instil fear in the whole world; it’s also meant to scare anyone from helping in Ukraine,” he said.

Vladimir Putin. Picture: AFP

While sanctions have put Russia’s economy in an undeniable chokehold, fears about Putin’s intentions regarding nuclear weapons continue.

Analysts believe the launching of nuclear weapons would place world powers in a catastrophic bind.

Director of the Europe and Central Asia Program at the International Crisis Group Olga Oliker voiced his grave concerns about the state of the war, which has seen multiple cities placed under heavy artillery fire for weeks.

However, Mr Oliker says Russia was yet to change “anything about its alert status”.

“If I see Russia moving its nuclear weapons in a way that suggests they‘re planning a strike on something, I will worry very much,” he said.

“We should be very reassured by the fact that there is no evidence that Russia has changed anything about its alert status.”

Analysts believe the launching of nuclear weapons would place world powers in a catastrophic bind, as the Ukrainian conflict enters its third week.

Originally published as Fears Australian uranium could be seized by Russia for nuclear weapons arsenal