ABSTRACT
In the post-Soviet era, the situation has been complicated by disputes between the major states, Ukraine and Russia in particular. The renewed nuclear commitments of post-Soviet governments are an indirect result of the diluted international response to Chernobyl. Thus the cessation of the nuclear power program, in the absence of equivalent declines in energy consumption, has resulted in an energy crisis in Soviet successor states. In December 1992, the Russian Ministry of Nuclear Power and Industry, led by Viktor Mikhailov, announced an ambitious nuclear power program which was the natural culmination of four years of intensive activity and propaganda. A pipeline carrying gas into Armenia from Georgia was blown up during civil strife early in 1993 and this led to serious problems in Armenia. In Lithuania both the previous Sajudis government and the present communist government have continued to rely on the Ignalina station for about 40 per cent of electricity needs.
