At today's meeting, the Council of Ministers adopted a decision granting a derogation from the restrictive measures imposed on Russia. These restrictions, for which an exception is being made, were prompted by the actions of the Russian Federation that have destabilized the situation in Ukraine. The news was officially confirmed by the government's information service.

Through this decision, Kozloduy NPP is permitted to import specific iron and steel products from Russia. The specific list of necessary components is detailed in an annex to the state decision adopted today. The imports are essential for the smooth fulfillment of an existing contract held by the nuclear power plant, and the derogation will remain in force until the expiration of the agreement itself.

Procuring parts and components from the original designers, constructors, and manufacturers of the equipment is a primary guarantee for nuclear safety and accident-free energy production. Since a significant portion of the systems installed at the plant are of Russian origin, the supply contracts required for the reliable operation of Units 5 and 6 have been, or are to be, concluded with Russian contractors. The plant's operational priorities remain the high standards of technical safety, radiation protection, and environmental conservation.

Kozloduy NPP occupies a strategic position in Bulgaria's energy sector as the country's only nuclear power plant and its largest electricity producer, providing over one-third of the annual national output. Its stability is a determining factor for the national power system and the country's energy security.

We remind you that this is not a precedent. On March 25 of this year, the caretaker government also approved derogations concerning the supply of original parts from the Russian Federation for 10 separate procedures for Kozloduy NPP. At that time, the motive for the decision was technical issues that had arisen with the membrane devices in the plant's sixth unit.