Russia still powers a fifth of US electricity through a ban it was supposed to stop

A U.S. law meant to end Russian uranium imports has not stopped the flow, with Russia still supplying about 26% of U.S. reactor enrichment purchases in 2025.

Utilities have relied on Department of Energy waivers, while domestic enrichment capacity is expanding too slowly to replace Russian supply in time.

The waiver authority expires in 2028, raising the risk of fuel disruptions if alternatives do not scale up before then.

The issue matters because nuclear plants generate about one-fifth of U.S. electricity and reveal a gap between sanctions policy and energy infrastructure.