Sevastopol Launches New Training Simulator for Nuclear Specialists
At Sevastopol State University, the Department of Nuclear Power Installations has completed modernization of its training laboratory, installing a high-precision digital model of a nuclear power plant unit to support hands-on education for future nuclear professionals.
This digital model forms the basis of the VVER-1000 simulator. Training on the system allows students to learn how to operate a reactor unit without any risk to real industrial facilities.
From Theory to Virtual Practice
The simulator is a full digital replica of the systems of a power unit with a VVER-1000 pressurized water reactor, one of the most widely used reactor types at Russian nuclear power plants.
Students can study the operation of all reactor subsystems, from the turbine hall to electrical systems and safety systems. The complex reproduces both standard operating modes and off-normal conditions, including emergency scenarios that require rapid decision-making.
The equipment cost amounted to 70 million rubles (approximately $840,000). The project was implemented as part of a cooperation roadmap between Sevastopol State University and Rosenergoatom Concern (Rosenergoatom). In the near term, instructors will complete training on the simulator, and from the next academic year students will begin working with it.
Domestic Platform for Workforce Training
Particular attention has been given to the software, which is entirely of Russian origin. Such a platform is not available at many specialized universities in the country, making SevSU (Sevastopol State University) one of the few sites where future control room operators and process engineers are trained using domestic digital solutions. This aligns with the broader strategy of technological sovereignty in critical industries.
According to specialists, students who complete training on the simulator will be about 80% ready for employment within Rosatom (Rosatom). The digital model enables safe practice of power unit operation, helping students develop correct responses to parameter changes and understand the interconnections between plant systems. This approach shortens the adaptation period in real-world operations and enhances the safety of nuclear facility management.
Nuclear Cluster for a World-Class Campus
The laboratory modernization is significant not only for the university but also for the city. On the northern side of Sevastopol, in the Hollandia settlement area, plans are underway to create an international world-class campus. The project includes six key clusters, one of which is the Center for New Nuclear and Energy Technologies. The new equipment strengthens the university’s position in applying for participation in this initiative.
The concept of the campus was presented in summer 2025 following a meeting between the Governor of Sevastopol and the Minister of Science and Higher Education of Russia. The university is already positioning its nuclear engineering programs as practice-oriented, and the presence of the VVER-1000 simulator underscores these ambitions.
Future of Nuclear Training
The VVER-1000 training simulator in Sevastopol represents an important component of Russia’s national system for training nuclear industry personnel. Against the backdrop of Rosatom’s expanding international project portfolio, new power unit construction in Russia and growing demand for highly qualified personnel, such solutions are becoming strategically important.
The digitalization of the educational process addresses several objectives at once: improving training quality, reducing the gap between academic theory and industrial practice, ensuring training safety and strengthening technological sovereignty. For Sevastopol, this also represents a step toward establishing itself as a scientific and educational center in nuclear technologies – a city preparing specialists not only for Crimea and southern Russia but also for international nuclear projects.
