Read the full overview of the mission below.
The delegation then visited the IAEA Department of Nuclear Energy, where they met with Mikhail Chudakov, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department; Vladimir Artisiuk, Senior Expert of the Nuclear Power Technology Development Section; and Alexander Bychkov, Independent Nuclear Expert, IAEA Deputy Director General (2010-2015).
Mikhail Chudakov presented the key areas of the Department’s activities, focusing on national infrastructure development, strategic energy planning, and energy systems analysis. Vladimir Artisyuk and Alexander Bychkov continued the presentation with an overview of emerging trends — including the deployment of small modular reactors, nuclear technologies in maritime transport, and the IAEA’s INPRO project on innovative reactors and fuel cycles.
During a roundtable discussion, Laura Rockwood, Senior Fellow at VCDNP, and Noah Mayhew, Senior Research Associate at VCDNP, explored the IAEA safeguards system and the challenges of its implementation. Elena Sokova, Executive Director of VCDNP, concluded the meeting with an analytical overview of the current state of the non-proliferation regime and outlined the main topics likely to shape the agenda of the XI NPT Review Conference.
At the IAEA Department of Safeguards, participants were welcomed by Alexey Anichenko, Director of the Division of Technical and Scientific Services, who presented the technical framework of the IAEA safeguards system and demonstrated the inspection and monitoring equipment used at nuclear facilities.
Afterward, for the first time in the program’s history, the delegation was received by Aarti Holla-Maini, Director of the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA). She spoke about the Office’s priority areas, highlighting international cooperation in the peaceful exploration and use of outer space.
Sergelen Bazarragchaa, Expert in Seismoacoustic Technologies, guided participants through the International Monitoring System (IMS) stations, while Aleksandr Tarasov, Radionuclide Engineering Officer, and Alexander Sudakov, Senior Software Infrastructure Specialist, explained the operation of the IMS and the International Data Centre (IDC) Operations Center.
The IMS comprises more than 300 stations worldwide that detect potential nuclear explosions using seismic, hydroacoustic, and radionuclide methods. The IDC Operations Center processes and distributes this data to States Signatories.
The delegation was welcomed by Oleg Rozhkov, Director of the CTBTO On-Site Inspection Division, who explained the inspection procedures, equipment certification processes, and compliance requirements. Participants also learned about the equipment used for analyzing potential nuclear contamination of different territories.
The group then continued to the IAEA Analytical Laboratories, where they gained practical insights into the work of several key facilities.
- Nuclear Material Laboratory — studies uranium and plutonium samples, ensuring their quality, origin traceability, and supporting IAEA safeguards.
- Environmental Sample Laboratory — analyzes air, water, and soil to detect radioactive materials and assess radiation exposure.
- Nuclear Science and Instrumentation Laboratory — develops advanced measurement and radiation monitoring techniques.
- Plant Breeding and Genetics Laboratory — applies induced mutagenesis to improve crop yield, resilience, and climate adaptability.
- Animal Production and Health Laboratory — uses isotope and nuclear methods for disease diagnostics and food security.
- Dosimetry Laboratory — calibrates radiation instruments for medical, industrial, and research applications.
At the Russian Permanent Mission to the International Organizations in Vienna, participants were welcomed by Ambassador Mikhail Ulyanov, who outlined the Mission’s priorities and discussed issues related to non-proliferation and current geopolitical challenges.
In his address, Sergei Federiakov, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the International Organizations in Vienna, focused on export control measures and the prevention of militarization of outer space.
Svetlana Surchina, Counselor of the Russian Permanent Mission and Head of the IAEA Group, together with Ekaterina Blagodarina, Second Secretary, Evgenii Shamin, Counselor, and Anton Gerasimchuk, Third Secretary, discussed key issues of nuclear safety and nuclear security, IAEA safeguards, technical cooperation, and personnel policy within the Agency.
Vyacheslav Kosarev, First Secretary, and Anton Gerasimchuk, Third Secretary, analyzed the likelihood of future nuclear tests and examined the nature of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT).
Suren Agadzhanian, Press Secretary and Head of Protocol, elaborated on modern instruments of digital diplomacy.
Iulia Zhdanova, Head of the Delegation of the Russian Federation at the Negotiations in Vienna on Military Security and Arms Control, addressed issues of conventional arms control and the activities of the OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation.
Deputy Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the International Organizations in Vienna Roman Ustinov and Third Secretary Anastasia Shavrova also took part in the briefings.
At the initiative of UNODA, a roundtable brought together interns and young professionals from the CTBTO, IAEA, Youth Leader Fund, and UNODA to discuss the role of youth in disarmament, professional development paths, and opportunities for future collaboration.
The participants then visited the Open Nuclear Network (ONN), a research organization where they explored modern approaches to reducing nuclear risks through open-source data analysis and even tried on the role of analysts, assessing the probability of nuclear tests being conducted by November 1, 2026.
The mission concluded with visits to the Embassy of Russia in Austria and the St. Nicholas Cathedral, where participants learned about the history of Russian diplomacy in Vienna and the cultural role of the Russian community.
“The Educational Mission to Vienna is not just a study trip, but a comprehensive platform for the professional and personal development of young specialists. What makes it especially important is that participants have the opportunity to see from the inside how international organizations operate, how decisions are made, and how initiatives in the field of global security are implemented. Such programs not only broaden horizons but also foster in young experts a sense of belonging to the world of international diplomacy — a space where their ideas and energy are truly needed.”
“I can confidently say that the Educational Mission to Vienna is truly an unparalleled format. In just one week, you are immersed in the key aspects of the work of international organizations and NGOs based in Vienna, while directly interacting with representatives of the Russian Permanent Mission to the International Organizations in Vienna. Over the course of the program, through live discussions, we gained not just new knowledge but a well-rounded understanding of the architecture of international processes, answers to complex questions, and a valuable network of new professional connections. This trip undoubtedly gave a powerful momentum to my professional development.”
“As a chemist, participation in the Educational Mission to Vienna gave me a rare opportunity to see how international organizations actually operate — institutions I had only heard about in university lectures. The trip allowed me to immerse myself in the field of international security: we learned about the work of the IAEA, CTBTO, and the UN, spoke with experts and department heads, explored their career paths, and even had the chance to ask questions to IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi and Russia’s Permanent Representative to International Organizations in Vienna Mikhail Ivanovich Ulyanov. We also visited ONN, where we learned how to properly analyze open-source information in the field of nuclear non-proliferation. Most memorably, during our visit to Seibersdorf, I was able to compare the work of international and Russian laboratories. This trip changed my perception of international relations, inspired me to pursue further research in the field of peaceful uses of the atom, and strengthened my belief that science truly has the power to make the world a better place.”