Lead
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Uzbek counterpart Shavkat Mirziyoyev met in St. Petersburg on June 4 and, via a video linkup, gave the go-ahead for the construction of the first power generating unit of an integrated nuclear power plant (NPP) in Uzbekistan, according to reports from the Russian state news agency TASS.
The meeting took place at the Konstantinovsky Palace in St. Petersburg, where Mirziyoyev was attending the 29th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), held June 3-6 under the theme "Pragmatic Dialogue: the Path to a Stable Future."
Coverage Comparison
All three TASS reports—which constitute the available coverage—agree on the core facts: the two leaders met at the Konstantinovsky (also rendered Constantine) Palace, and they participated in a ceremony marking the start of construction of the first power unit of the integrated nuclear plant, with the ceremony conducted via video linkup. The reports also uniformly cite Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov as the source for details about the meeting and the construction launch.
The coverage differs slightly in emphasis. The first report focuses on the bilateral meeting itself, noting that it was held on the sidelines of SPIEF. The second report, published two days earlier, previews the construction launch, quoting Ushakov on the symbolic nature of the event. The third report provides the most detailed account of the ceremony, including the planned participation of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi, Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev, and Uzatom Director Azim Akhmedkhadjaev, as well as the sequencing of speeches and the procedural request for permission to begin concreting.
No independent non-Russian sources are included in the available material, so all information in this article traces back to TASS, which is known for reflecting official Russian government positions.
Key Claims
According to all three TASS reports, Putin and Mirziyoyev gave the start to construction of the first power generating unit of the integrated nuclear power plant in Uzbekistan. The ceremony was conducted via a video linkup, with the leaders authorizing the beginning of activities at the construction site, as Ushakov explained in one of the reports.
The integrated nuclear power plant in Uzbekistan is described as a unique project that will become the first nuclear power generation facility in the country to include both high- and small-capacity reactors. Specifically, the plant will comprise two high-capacity power units based on VVER-100 reactors and one power unit with two small-capacity reactors of 55 MW each, according to the third report.
The first concreting ceremony, the reports note, signifies that the facility will be granted "nuclear power plant under construction" status by the IAEA.
Perspectives
From the Russian official perspective, as conveyed through TASS, the meeting underscores the strength of bilateral relations between Russia and Uzbekistan. The decision to launch the nuclear plant construction during the SPIEF meeting is portrayed as a strategically and symbolically significant gesture, highlighting energy cooperation as a pillar of the partnership.
The initiative also reflects Russia's broader ambitions to expand its nuclear technology exports in Central Asia, a region where it has historically had strong influence. The inclusion of IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi in the ceremony adds an international dimension, suggesting the project's compliance with global nuclear safety standards.
No alternative or critical perspectives were present in the available coverage. Given the source's state affiliation, independent verification of the events and details would be advisable for readers seeking a fuller picture.