On November 8, according to a report by Russian Satellite Communications, Andrei Babkin, deputy commander of the cosmonaut corps at Russia's space agency, stated that a lunar nuclear power plant is a prerequisite for further exploration of the Moon, including crewed missions. Earlier, Alexey Likhachev, director general of Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation, said that Russia plans to complete construction of its first nuclear power plant on the Moon by the mid-2030s. Speaking about the plan during the "Science 0+" international festival in Tashkent, Babkin said, "Without such a power station, further exploration of the Moon is simply impossible." He noted that given the long lunar night lasting about 14 Earth days and extremely low temperatures, a nuclear power plant is "the only solution that can ensure stability and safety," and that a reliable energy source is especially critical in the transition from uncrewed exploration systems to crewed expeditions.