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Russia's nuclear plants, with 31 operating reactors totalling 21,743 MWe, comprise: 4 first generation VVER-440/230 or similar pressurised water reactors, 2 second generation VVER-440/213 pressurised water reactors, 9 third generation VVER-1000 pressurised water reactors with a full containment structure, mostly V-320 types, 11 RBMK light water graphite reactors now unique to Russia. The four oldest of these were commissioned in the 1970s at Kursk and Leningrad and are of some concern to the Western world. A further Kursk unit is under construction. 4 small graphite-moderated BWR reactors in eastern Siberia, constructed in the 1970s for cogeneration (EGP-6 models on linked map). One BN-600 fast-breeder reactor.

Generally, Russian reactors are licensed for 30 years from first power. Late in 2000, plans were announced for lifetime extensions of twelve first-generation reactors* totalling 5.7 GWe, and the extension period envisaged is now 15 to 25 years, necessitating major investment in refurbishing them. Generally the VVER-440 and RBMK units will get 15-year life extensions and the nine VVER-1000 units 25 years.  To 2010, 15-year extensions had been achieved for Novovoronezh-3 & 4, Kursk-1 & 2, Kola-1 & 2 and Leningrad-1-3.  Bilibino 1-4 have also been given 15-year licence extensions.  (Kola 1 & 2 VVER-440 and the Kursk and Leningrad RBMK units are all models which the EU has paid to shut down early in countries outside Russia.)

n 2010, life extensions were announced for Leningrad 4, Smolensk 1, Kola 3 and Beloyarsk 3 (all 15 years), and Novovoronezh 5 (25 years).  Leningrad 4 is undergoing an RUR 17 billion refurbishment, including replacement of generator stator.