In 1954 the Soviet nuclear reactor at Obninsk became the first to supply power to an external grid, but for about a decade afterwards there was relatively little activity while the United Kingdom, France, and the United States built several dual-purpose (the British Magnox and French UNGG series) and power producing reactors. There were some prototype units of the VVER type (it seems the Leningrad reactors were the first RBMK types), but it wasn't until the 1970s that the Soviet Union began a major commercial power program. Given the Soviet situation was similar to that of the British and French, namely needing to boost domestic power and plutonium output, it seems the Soviets would have had the same reasons to pursue a dual purpose power program using something like RBMK as the British and French did with Magnox and UNGG. Anyone know why this didn't occur? What kind of impact would an earlier start to the Soviet civilian nuclear program have had on the industry, and might it have allowed for the development of more of a professionalized and safety oriented culture at civilian Soviet nuclear facilities?