Can Ukraine make nuclear weapons?
Last Updated: 30.06.2025 06:12
One of the world’s poorest states, North Korea, reportedly possesses 50 locally built nuclear warheads.
A bit of history:
Zelensky said that he only spoke about Ukraine giving up nukes under the Budapest memorandum, in exchange to security guarantees — and still, Russia invaded Ukraine twice in the last 10 years.
Institute of Nuclear Research
He only said that to live in safety, Ukraine either needs membership in NATO — or nukes. And that Ukraine wants to be in NATO, to be safe.
State Scientific and Technical Center for Nuclear and Radiation Safety in Kyiv
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So, here it is: yes, Ukraine could make nuclear weapons — if they wanted to.
Ukraine had 1,272 nuclear warheads for intercontinental missiles.
The recent statement by president Zelenskyy created quite a stir — the Ukrainian president said that to ensure its secure existence, Ukraine has only 2 options: to create its own nuclear weapons or to become a member of NATO.
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In addition, Ukraine owned thousands of tactical nukes.
However, when asked, “How long would it take for Ukraine to build a nuclear bomb?,” at the joint press conference in Brussels with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, President Zelenskyy downplayed the issue, stating effectively:
In 1993, Ukraine had 3rd largest nuclear arsenal in the world.
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Before the USSR collapsed, Ukraine fully participated in the Soviet nuclear program.
“That means, that is not a very good umbrella for our security,” pointed Zelenskyy — this is why Ukraine needs NATO.
A bit of stocktaking:
Let me remind you of this guy:
And Ukraine is the 10th largest Uranium producer on earth.
Institute of Condensed Matter Physics in Lviv.
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After Zelenskyy’s speech yesterday, the Russian propaganda channels are absolutely hysterical, trying to prove — mouths foaming — that Ukraine is unable to build nuclear weapons.
There were 10 missile divisions with intercontinental nuclear missiles with a range of 11,000 km.
Institute of Organic Chemistry
Kharkiv Physics and Technology Institute
“We have never said that we are preparing to create a nuclear weapon.”
Which he hadn’t.
And they aren’t telling us how long would it take Ukraine to make its own NW.
Ukraine surrendered its nuclear arsenal to Russia, on “security guarantees” from the U.S. and U.K. Russia, too, vouched to guarantee Ukraine’s sovereignty and security.
“But we don’t do nuclear weapons,” stated Zelenskyy, ending his answer, and asked the journalist who posed the question not to move” such messages.
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But they say that they are not doing it.
If North Korea can do it, a former nuclear power that still has the scientists and engineers who built the Soviet nukes, can certainly do it.
A number of nuclear research institutes involved in these projects are still operational in Ukraine, including: