Uragan Stellarators

Intelligence Summary: Uragan Stellarators — Ukraine's Magnetic Confinement Fusion Heritage

Node Identity: The Uragan (Russian for "hurricane") series stellarators at the Institute of Plasma Physics (IPP) at NSC KIPT in Kharkiv represent Ukraine's primary magnetic confinement fusion research program and one of the most significant Soviet-era plasma physics heritages now under Ukrainian sovereignty. The stellarator program at KIPT dates to 1956, initiated by K.D. Sinel'nikov with support from Academician I.V. Kurchatov. The progression includes: "Sirius" (1964), "Uragan-1" (1967), "Uragan-2" (1970), "Uragan-3" (1982), and the current operational devices Uragan-2M (U-2M) and Uragan-3M (U-3M).

Strategic Relevance: The Uragan stellarators represent over 60 years of continuous magnetic confinement fusion research — a line of investigation dating to the earliest days of the Soviet fusion program. U-2M is one of the stellarators providing experimental data to the EUROfusion programme, integrating Ukraine's fusion research into the European framework. U-3M is a three-turn (l=3) torsatron with nine periods of helical field, major radius R=100 cm, put into operation in 1982 and upgraded in 1988. Kurchatov had proposed building a large-scale stellarator called "Ukraine" in Kharkov, underscoring the historical significance of this site. Ukraine's integration into EUROfusion since 2017 represents a strategic westward reorientation of its fusion research enterprise, reducing dependence on Russian scientific infrastructure.

Technical Focus / Capabilities: U-2M is the larger facility, operating as a torsatron-type stellarator contributing experimental data to EUROfusion. U-3M features a three-turn helical winding configuration with nine field periods. Both devices conduct research on thermonuclear plasma confinement using magnetic fields, RF plasma heating, and high-temperature plasma diagnostics. The IPP has 135 researchers, engineers, technicians and PhD students organized into three research divisions: stellarators, plasma dynamics, and plasma theory. Research includes MHD equilibrium and stability studies, plasma transport phenomena, and diagnostic development for ITER-relevant applications including divertor materials and first mirrors for diagnostic systems.

Network Linkage: IPP (Institute of Plasma Physics at KIPT) operates the Uragan Stellarators. EUROfusion Ukraine funds IPP research through the European fusion program framework, connecting the Uragan devices to the broader European fusion research enterprise. The Krasukha-4 Capture event (March 2022) provides wartime context for Ukraine's defense technology landscape, though the stellarator program remains fundamentally civilian fusion research. The stellarator program's 60+ year history connects to both Soviet-era scientific heritage and modern European integration.