Can Ukraine develop nuclear weapons? An expert's explanation

Following the collapse of the USSR, Ukraine inherited the third-largest nuclear arsenal in the world - 176 intercontinental ballistic missiles and over 4,000 nuclear warheads. Military expert and Reseve Colonel of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Petro Chernyk says that developing nuclear weapons is a highly complex process. After all, plutonium, which is used to create such weapons, is very difficult to obtain.

He expressed this opinion to "24 Kanal".

According to him, if Ukraine started producing nuclear weapons, it would be difficult to conceal it. Such works are carried out at nuclear power plants.

"The information would spread, and there is no doubt that our allies would prohibit such activity. If, hypothetically, there were political will, production capabilities, or money. As soon as it becomes an objective reality, we will immediately be prevented by everyone" - the expert says.

He also adds, that Ukraine does not have the technology to produce nuclear warheads, but the presence of nuclear power plants could change that, if the issue is explored.

"I don't see the utility coefficient of such action. Unless there is one exception, as with the Israeli example, if everything is sanctioned by our main ally - the United States of America," Petro Chernyk concluded.

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