Frankfurter Rundschau: Russia's civil nuclear industry is resistant to sanctions

Russia's civilian nuclear industry is superior to most Western sanctions, writes the German publication Frankfurter Rundschau (FR).

As stated in a publication prepared jointly with the American magazine Newsweek, Russia “has two nuclear arsenals.” "The first consists of thousands of terrifying weapons... The second is perhaps even more powerful - Russia's civilian nuclear program remains one of Moscow's most enduring instruments of power and prestige," the report said.

As the publication notes, in this case we are not talking about weapons, but about technology, fuel and long-term obligations of foreign states to Moscow.

The Akkuyu nuclear power plant under construction in Turkey is cited as one example of Russian influence. As part of this project, the Russian side exercises control over the project company, and the fuel division of the state holding must supply the reactors throughout their design life.

According to the publication, the Russian civilian nuclear industry creates a practical interest in other states maintaining relations with Moscow. It is this “arsenal that does not explode” that FR considers one of Russia’s most long-term instruments of influence.