09.10.2017 г. Ukraine is One Step from a New Chernobyl
CyberBerkut adherents from Kiev gave us a trove of national company Energoatom documents revealing the Ukrainian nuclear power plants' operation.
The desperate state of the Ukraine nuclear power industry is not a myth. Experts forecast an increase in nuclear accidents due to keeping old reactors operating. The lifetime of numerous nuclear power units operating since the Soviet came to an end. But Ukraine has no money for constructing the new ones. That's why the Ukrainian authorities adopted the plan to extend the technical lifetime of nuclear units over another ten years. The plan, however, turned out to be ineffective, crude and harmful to the environment. It also poses a threat of a new catastrophe like Fukushima or even Chernobyl.
We've obtained the documents from governmental bodies of Austria, Romania, Moldova and Belarus, Greenpeace and the CEE Bankwatch network. They all sound the alarm over Energoatom plans to extend the operation of old nuclear units.
Foreign experts' concerns were tabulated by Energoatom employees.
The second column contains remarks and questions of the concerned parties. The third one has comments from Ukrainian experts in response to these concerns. Even at first glance, you can see Ukrainian officials' mockery and disregard to the foreign colleagues' concerns.
You can download the document here. We will highlight a few key points below.
Firstly, it's striking that Kiev decided to extend the technical lifetime of nuclear units in 2015 without any review by foreign experts. Ukraine sent the program to its neighbors and international ecological organization only after adopting the plan to modernize its nuclear power plants.
Thus, Kiev violated two UN conventions that require getting international and social consents before putting nuclear plants into operation.
Here is the Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context, the so-called Espoo Convention.
And the Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to justice in Environmental Matters, the so-called Aarhus Convention.
Here are the comments of Jan Haverkamp, the Greenpeace activist and reputed expert on nuclear power.
Translation from Ukrainian:
* Greenpeace Central and Eastern Europe, Jan Haverkamp
** Thus, Ukraine violates the UN Aarhus and Espoo Conventions again
*** For the moment, the process has been launched without taking into account either the EIA results or the public opinion
**** Ukraine should undo its decision and wait for the EIA results as well as the public opinion
***** independent
He calls for suspending of the South Ukraine Nuclear Power Plant's technical lifetime extending to improve the situation. But Kiev doesn't care about UN Conventions at all. It sticks to its own rules and the world ones are not so important. "Independent" is the key word.
CEE Bankwatch Network echoes Greenpeace concerns. The organization representative from Romania Maria Seman also expresses her indignation over Kiev ignoring international law:
Translation from Ukrainian:
* According to the Aarhus Convention, Art.6, p.4, each party shall provide for early public participation, when all options are open and effective public participation can take place
** This concerns reactors 1 and 2 of the South Ukraine NPP and reactors 1 and 2 of Zaporizhia NPP which have seen their license renewed while modernization efforts have been made despite alarms from neighboring countries and the Espoo Convention Implementation Committee. Thus, the decision on expending the lifespan of four reactors should be declared invalid by the concerned parties.
To Seman's mind, the decisions to extend the reactors' technical lifetime at the South Ukraine and Zaporizhia power plants should be declared invalid.
Here Maria Seman points out at other cases of International Law violation by Ukraine: Kiev refused to inform the concerned parties before making decision on NPPs and now, it can't guarantee taking into consideration all the remarks during modernizing power generators.
Translation from Ukrainian:
* Ukraine violates the Espoo Convention refusing to notify the parties before the decision to extend the operation of 6 reactors.
** Considering the fact that these documents have already been presented to the Ukrainian public in 2015 but have not been announced to the international community, the violation of the Espoo Convention is obvious.
*** How can Ukraine guarantee that any possible commitments will be reflected in the decision to extend the operation?
**** The delay took place
*****Probably there is a conflict of laws
Kiev, however, is a little concerned about the warnings of foreign specialists. It just gives snide responses. Draw your attention to the commentary of the Ukrainian "devil's advocates." They ignore the U.N. demands and call it a "conflict of laws", and the violation of the basic principles of environmental supervision they call a "delay".
These conventions were created in order to avoid voluntarism of political powers in the field of nuclear energy. The violation of the international law is not ecologists' business. It is a juridical fact that demands an investigation, identifying perpetrators and error recovery. So where are the international commissions? Where are the proceedings? Where are the courts and tribunals that faithfully protect the language of law? Why the Ukrainian authorities escape punishment for ignoring the U.N. treaties that they must to adhere? The Espoo Convention Committee and other relevant departments have to answer these questions. Besides, Jan Haverkamp has criticized the Ukrainian authorities for the failure to conduct competent and professional environmental impact analysis.
Translation from Ukrainian:
* The research and development options proposed at the moment are insufficient.
** "The analysis has shown that a harmful effect caused by the extension of technical lifetime of the South Ukraine Nuclear Power Plant reactors in normal use or in the case of project or non-project accidents is virtually non-existent." Such conclusion is absolutely unacceptable because the analysis has not been conducted properly
According to the expert, the authors of the program have no concept of making a risk assessment; they failed to study Chernobyl and Fukushima lessons. The continuing operation of the South Ukraine and the Zaporizhia power units increases the risk of another nuclear disaster.
Translation from Ukrainian:
* The analysis is inaccurate, inappropriate and unprofessional. Especially in view of the fact that the analysis failed to find any emergency scenario that might cause any concerns. This is an evidence of the absence of imagination of compliers rather than risk assessment that must be conducted in a nuclear energy sector.
** The authors failed to study Chernobyl and Fukushima key lessons, so there is a growing risk that any extension of the operational period of the South Ukraine Nuclear Power Plant may cause a similar disaster.
Jan Haverkamp also expressed concerns that Energoatom extended the operational period of these nuclear power plants and didn't take into account the risk of technological disaster in the context of annual extreme aging of nuclear power units.
Translation from Ukrainian:
* The analysis ignored 30% risk of any technical or personnel error, natural disaster, criminal acts including sabotage, terrorist attacks and/or war. Moreover, 30% risk of radioactive waste generation or 30% growth of impact on the environment due to extraction and salvaging of uranium were also ignored.
For its part, the Romanian government has indicated a number of mistakes, defects and missing information. Here's just one of several paragraphs (the translation made by the Ukrainian side).
Translation from Ukrainian:
* Nuclear safety policy statements are misleading, incomplete and baseless.
Besides, the Ministry of Energy noted that the documents provided by the Ukrainian side don't contain any key information about the assessment of possible effects of the accident at the NPP:
Translation from Ukrainian:
* Also, there are no exact details required for nuclear safety information.
** This information, in our opinion, may be interesting for specially trained and qualified specialists.
However, the Ukrainian side feels no remorse for poor work done. Its answers sound ridiculously again. Kiev experts think that Romanian experts are not qualified enough to request such information.
The representatives of neighboring countries also complain about the lack of information necessary for a full assessment of the Ukrainian nuclear power plants' modernization program.
In particular, the Ministry of Environment of Moldova stressed that the environmental impact assessment does not take into account the physical aging of the reactors and their radiation protection elements as a result of interaction with neutron waves:
Translation from Ukrainian:
* The EIA does not cover issues connected with physical aging of reactor design elements or radiation protection as a result of prolonged interaction with huge neutron waves.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Belarus asked to provide the following information:
Translation from Ukrainian:
* Please provide us with detailed information on the documents by virtue of which the decision to extend the technical lifetime of two power units of the nuclear power plant was made; the information on the modernization of each power unit, the replacement of exhausted equipment; what measures had been taken to provide environmental safety of the facility; brief information on the safety of power units and the compliance of adopted measures, according to the IAEA recommendations.
Serious concerns are raised about the fact the Ukrainian state structures responsible for nuclear energy did not canvass the measures to salvage spent nuclear fuel and additional nuclear waste. Due to extension of the operation of power units and refusal to maintain Russian storage facilities this pending issue remains unsolved.
For example, Mary Seman from CEE Bankwatch Network writes:
Translation from Ukrainian:
* The section on nuclear radioactive waste lacks information on the total amount of waste generated during the year, as well as a detailed plan for handling them, including storage. The nuclear power plant's capacities for storing nuclear waste are limited, and the transportation of waste and spent fuel in Russia has been stopped since the deployment of the civil war in the East of Ukraine. You must make a request for this information.
** There is no civil war in Ukraine, but Russian aggression only. The author should use reliable sources of information.
However, Kyiv is not concerned about the issue of spent nuclear fuel salvage. The situation in the East territories of the country is much more important for the authorities. The Ukrainian officials advise the Romanian expert to read proper newspapers instead of answering awkward questions.
Moldavia and Belarus have also voiced fears for storage and processing of noxious substances:
Translation from Ukrainian:
* The EIA documentation does not disclose the issue of radioactive waste, especially with regard to handling and transportation
Translation from Ukrainian:
* In this regard, we ask you to provide us with the information on the additional amount of RW and SNF formation; the need to increase the capacity of near-station radwaste and SNF storage facilities or to build the new ones.
In addition, The Ukrainian authorities understate the minimum limits of radiation effects, established in case of accidents and radioactive substances' leaks.
In particular, the Romanian Ministry of Energy was horrified by the radioactive contamination limits established by Kyiv. Such contamination could lead to death of about 50% of the population between the "exclusion zone and the low population area:"
Translation from Ukrainian:
* The presented sections related to the analysis of accidents do not correspond to the documentation of any of the species. They also contain errors and technical inconsistences.
** The values of equivalent and effective doses vary between 0,4 Sv (in 2 days) and 9,4 Sv (in a month). Such contamination is terrific forasmuch as the equivalent and effective doses of 4/5 Sv in 30 days will lead to death of about 50% of the population between the "exclusion zone and the low population area.
Meanwhile Mr. Haverkamp from Greenpeace is confused by the reduction of buffer zone's scales.
Translation from Ukrainian:
* 29 What is the rationale for the initial buffer zone of 2.5 km? After Fukushima, a direct distribution zone of 10 km became internationally accepted as a minimum
Foreign experts are convinced that the Ukrainian government has decided to extend the operation of power units due to lack of funds essential for salvaging. At the same time the experts are voicing doubts for the government to accumulate enough money even in 10 years.
Greenpeace does not support Energoatom to extend the operation of the NPP. In response, the Ukrainian experts are trying to escape the issue:
Translation from Ukrainian:
* The population of Ukraine and neighboring countries, as well as the environment of nuclear power plants, will be in the risk zone, since Energoatom and the Ukrainian government have been unable to collect the money necessary for the decommissioning of power units.
** What is Energoatom or even the Ukrainian government to make such a far-sighted decision for the population when only this unconvincing rationale is presented?
*** Since Energoatom is not able to save money for decommissioning and handling of radioactive waste with ultra-hazardous activity, we advise to stop the operation of the South Ukrainian and the Zaporizhiya NPPs.
Bankwatch representative Mrs. Seman pays attention to inevitable decommission of these power units in future:
Translation from Ukrainian:
* The document argues in several places that the decommissioning of a nuclear power plant is an expensive process and Ukraine does not have enough funds to cover it. The inefficiency to accumulate these funds by the government and the organization that operates the nuclear power plant should be assessed, and a thorough decommissioning plan should be established.
Ecologists are concerned with the lack of data about the increasing in the incidence of leukemia caused by radiation, especially among children who live in the area of NPPs.
Translation from Ukrainian:
* For example: the so-called KIKK research in Germany (concerning the cancer among children living next to nuclear power plants) concluded that there is a significant relationship between the growth of childhood leukemia and the distance to the nuclear power plant in the area of five kilometers. Similar studies in the UK, Switzerland and France confirmed these findings.
** From this point of view, it would be extremely important to provide data on the peak values of radioactive emissions identified by Ferly. Comparing the data, will help to determine whether there are cases of leukemia among children in area of 5km from nuclear power plants.
*** Do we have to consider them all?
Ukraine's response leads to perplexity. In Kiev, they ask themselves: is it really necessary to take into account the impact of nuclear power plants on the health of residents living nearby? Absolutely! After all, this concerns incurable diseases among the youngest citizens. But it seems that Greenpeace cares more about Ukrainians' health than their own government.
We have demonstrated only a small part of the gross violations of Energoatom, which foreign nuclear energy experts drew attention to. The full version of the document, as well as the other materials you can find in the archive below.
All these facts indicate that the Ukrainian nuclear power plants represent a real threat to the European security. People living in close proximity to nuclear power plants are daily exposed to mortal danger. In the areas of operation of pre-emergency NPPs, the percentage of oncological diseases is increasing. However, the leadership of Ukraine does not bother. The authorities prefer to invest in their own pockets and not in the national health and security.
We are CyberBerkut! We will not forget! We will not forgive!
23.08.2017 г. Ukraine is a Field for Pentagon's Biological Tests
CyberBerkut is keeping a close eye on the U.S. special services and NGOs' activities in Ukraine.
Recently, users have heavily discussed the outbreaks of rare diseases in our country. Many Ukrainians believe their emergence was caused by secret experiments with pathogens carried out in the American biological labs operating around the Ukraine. Since 2009, Washington has sponsored at least 15 facilities in the country for the alleged purpose of reducing biological threats. But the number and scale of these very threats have largely grown ever since.
Most of the labs employees are native Ukrainians though they really don't have access to the storage unit containing viruses and bacteria's samples and don't even know in what exact room of the lab they are located. It's known that pathogens are always under surveillance. But who is supervising them?
We, CyberBerkut, have exposed the organization structure of the U.S. special services' activity in Ukraine.
The labs are officially reported to operate under the Ukrainian Ministry of Health which is evidently just a formality taking into consideration that since August 1, 2016, the department is headed by Ulyana Suprun, an American citizen and a Maidan activist. In fact, the secret studies on biological substances are guided by the Pentagon.
These are the Defense Intelligence Agency and its component, the National Center for Medical Intelligence that lead the American secret biological projects in the USA. The latter is located at Fort Detrick, Maryland.
The DIA's biological projects in foreign countries, in particular in Ukraine, are implemented under the cover of governmental bodies and commercial organizations.
The Defense Threat Reduction Agency of the Pentagon handles construction and maintenance of the labs. Kevin Garrett is in charge of the Ukrainian unit at the DTRA headquarters. The agency's interests in Ukraine are represented by Joanna L. Wintrol, the U.S. Embassy employee. The work of the American specialists at the classified sections of the biological labs is supervised by Miles Dudley, the official of the U.S. Embassy political department and the DIA's officer.
As for the commercial sphere, the Intelligence involvement is covered by Black & Veatch Special Projects Corp, a general contractor for construction, equipment and further maintenance of the labs, including biological researches. The Ukrainian company Metabiota is a subcontractor. It's located in the same office as Black & Veatch though it has an independent juridical status.
The structure of the U.S. military biological activity in Ukraine can be presented as follows:
A number of non-governmental organizations, including the Science and Technology Center in Ukraine (STCU) and the NGO International HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis Institute (IHATI), represent the Ukrainian side in coordinating secret biological experiments. Despite the Ukrainian registration, both of these institutions just seem to be Ukrainian.
USTC is an international intergovernmental organization that is actually engaged in distribution of American money and financing secret programs. Officially, the funds are spent on grants and sponsorship. The center is headed by Curtis M. Bjelajac, the representative of the U.S. special services.
The International HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis Institute is headed by Eliot J. Pearlman, the former military doctor and virus specialist, who was sent to Ukraine by the Defense Intelligence Agency back in 1991.
Pearlman's Institute is a mediator in financing and coordinating of special projects for the biological weapons development. Through this Institute, in particular, the cashing of funds coming from abroad is performed.
In order to cover this activity, Pearlman organizes conferences and seminars on HIV/AIDS issues and distributes small grants for the benefit of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.
The report on an event like that, which we obtained from Dr. Pearlman's personal e-mail correspondence, clearly demonstrates his deep involvement in the military biological activities in Ukraine as a Defense Intelligence Agency employee.
Another similar event was held on May 24-25, 2017 in Kiev. The Head of the Sanitarian Epidemiological Department of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine Major Sergey Litovka and other officers of the medical service Colonel Petrenko, Colonel Dyaduk, Major Kozhuchko and others took part in the conference.
Here are the photos from the conference:
The Institute is covering its work supplying medical equipment and contraceptives for the prevention of HIV/AIDS in the army.
Download Dr. Eliot Perlman's e-mails archive
The epidemics of rare diseases that have shaken Ukraine in recent years may be caused by leaks from these laboratories. However, this option seems very improbable given the American specialists' high level of skills. Most likely, these infections were dispersed intentionally and were part of the testing of combat viruses modifications for the purpose of their testing and improvement.
The government of Ukraine ignores the international Convention on the Prohibition of Biological weapons. It voluntarily refused to control dangerous researches. Apparently, this has already led to the country's loss of sovereignty in the biosafety field. Thus, with the Washington assistance the Ukrainian authorities are turning the country into a testing ground for lethal weapons, endangering the survival of the entire nation, as well as our European neighbors.
We are CyberBerkut! We will not forget! We will not forgive!
12.07.2017 г. Ukraine sponsored Hillary Clinton using IMF loans
The Ukrainian investigation case connected to commercial banks that laundered IMF's money from the National Bank of Ukraine is still going on. According to the investigation, such banks as Tavrika, Pivdenkom Bank, Avtokraz Bank, CityCommerce Bank, Finrost Bank, Terra Bank, Kyivska Rus Bank, Vernum Bank, Credit Dnepr Bank, Delta Bank were involved in the criminal scheme. Funds were transferred through Austrian Meinl Bank AG.
We, CyberBerkut, decided to contribute to the investigation.
Having examined the materials published on the Internet we focused on two financial organizations named Credit Dnepr Bank and Delta Bank. In comparison with other banks these two financial organizations offshored much more money. These banks are closely related to Victor Pinchuk – one of the richest Ukrainian bankers. He is also a son-in-law of former Ukraine's President Leonid Kuchma. As it turns out, the offshore organizations that received IMF's money such as Melfa Group LTD (Belize), Tandice Limited (Cyprus), Tosalan Traiding Limited (Cyprus), Agalusko Investment Limited (Cyprus), Winten Trading LTD (Cyprus), Silisten Trading Limited, Nasterno Commercial Limited, are also connected to this gentleman. Moreover, most of money went to the account of his main money-laundering machine – the Victor Pinchuk Foundation.
So, we decided to track down the stolen funds.
We've hacked Thomas Weihe's email. This man is the Head of the Board of the Victor Pinchuk Foundation. As you can see from his correspondence the oligarch's foundation is closely cooperating with the Clinton Foundation. And it is worth to mention that Pinchuk and his wife often meet with former American president's family members. Mr. Weihe regularly communicates with the Clinton Foundation representatives and constantly arranges meetings between the Pinchuks and the Clintons. Here are some Mr Weihe's emails.
Full emails archives can be found by clicking the link.
In addition, over the past 5 years the Victor Pinchuk Foundation transferred to the Clinton Foundation from 10 to 25 million dollars. The largest tranches from the Pinchuk Foundation to the Clinton Foundation were held in 2015 and 2016. And by a "fortune chance", Hillary Clinton fought for the Oval at the exact same time.
Below you can see the financing scheme of H. Clinton's election campaign using IMF's loans that were intended for Ukraine.
We would also like to remind you that the former Ukrainian Finance Minister N.Yaresko was an American businesswoman, the former head of the National Bank of Ukraine N.Gontareva worked in foreign banks for a long time. Coming back to the Credit Dnepr Bank which belongs to V.Pinchuk it is worth to mention that his supervisory board includes former IMF managing director D.Strauss-Kahn who probably still has influence on the international credit organization.
We are CyberBerkut! We will not forget! We will not forgive!
13.01.2017 The United States to Manufacture False Evidence of Russian Involvement in Cyber Attacks
Our whistleblowers gave us information that Russia was going to face great provocation. The Americans intend to manufacture false evidence of the Russian security services' involvement in cyber attacks during the U.S. presidential elections 2016.
We cover the names of the provocation facilitators in order not to expose our sources. It is worth saying, a famous American politician and major financier took part in the plot.
We are CyberBerkut! We will not forget! We will not forgive!