REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON UKRAINIAN

UNCLAS STATE 072687 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KNNP MNUC ASEC ENRG KCRM PARM TRGY UP XH PINR SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON UKRAINIAN SEIZURE OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS REF: A. A) CEP20080707950429 ¶B. B) 2007 STATE 162091 ¶1. (U) This is an action request for Embassy Kyiv. Please see paragraph 3. ¶2. (U) BACKGROUND: According to Ref A, the Ukrainian Interior Ministry in the Cherkasy region detained two men attempting to sell cesium and enriched uranium for five million U.S. dollars. According to the report, the radioactive materials were found during a car inspection while the suspects traveled from Dnipropetrovsk to Cherkasy region. There was no information on the buyer of the material. The materials have been secured at a Radon facility in Kyiv and are undergoing analysis. The individuals attempted to sell the confiscated radioactive materials as a sample in order to maintain a channel for further sales. A media report also indicated that one of the detained is on the consulate registration list for the Ukrainian Embassy in Germany. ¶3. (SBU) ACTION REQUEST: Post is requested to seek answers from appropriate Ukrainian officials to the questions in paras 12 and 13 of Ref B and to provide a coordinated response to Washington via front-channel cable. All relevant agencies at Embassy Kyiv are requested to coordinate outreach to the GOU. RICE