Kostyukov Valentin Yefimovich (born August 12, 1949, in the village of Malyye Sitniki, Borsky District, Gorky Region) — director of the Russian Federal Nuclear Center — All-Russian Research Institute of Experimental Physics in Sarov since February 2008.[1][4] Prior to this, he headed the Nizhny Novgorod Research Institute of Measuring Systems named after Yu. E. Sedakov for fourteen years.[1][4] Doctor of Technical Sciences, professor, Hero of the Russian Federation, Honorary Citizen of Nizhny Novgorod Region.[1][3]
From the auto plant to the institute
Kostyukov graduated from his local secondary school and from the Gorky Automotive Mechanics Technical College (1969), after which he worked as an instrument fitter at the Gorky Automobile Plant.[1][2] From 1969 to 1971 he served in the Soviet Army.[1][2]
From 1971 to 1977 he studied at the mechanical engineering faculty of the Gorky Polytechnic Institute named after A. A. Zhdanov, graduating with distinction as a process engineer; during his student years he worked in construction brigades.[1][2]
In August 1977 he joined the Nizhny Novgorod Institute of Measuring Systems and rose through the ranks from junior engineer to director: he served as engineer, bureau chief, deputy shop superintendent, department head, and from 1985 as chief process engineer and deputy chief engineer, before heading the institute in 1994.[1][4] The institute, which bears the name of its founder Yury Yevgenyevich Sedakov, operates in Nizhny Novgorod and specializes in radio-electronic and information-and-control systems.[4]
The Nuclear Center
On February 21, 2008, Kostyukov was appointed director of RFNC-VNIIEF — the country's largest scientific and technical center, located in Sarov.[4]
Under his leadership the institute developed not only its core defense work. In 2020, at a session of the Military-Industrial Commission collegium, Kostyukov presented the "Tianoks" nitric oxide inhalation therapy device, developed at the nuclear center.[6] Around the same time, the first of eight modules of a laser system — to which one and a half times more energy is supplied than to the American NIF — was launched in Sarov, and the opening of a Sarov branch of Moscow University was announced.[7]
For 2025, the nuclear center's revenue grew by 15 percent compared to the previous year, the average monthly income of an employee came to approximately 129,000 rubles, the social benefits package totaled 1 billion 800 million rubles; 4,538 employees received departmental and state awards, of whom 112 received state awards.[5]
On August 22, 2025, the day of the president's visit to Sarov, a decree was signed awarding the institute the Order "For Valiant Labor"; the award was timed to coincide with the 80th anniversary of the nuclear industry.[5]
This shows the high trust placed in us by the country's leadership. But that trust must be earned through the fulfillment of the most important state tasks that stand before our team.
Work and Positions
| Years | Place of work and position |
|---|---|
| 1969 | instrument fitter at the Gorky Automobile Plant[1][2] |
| 1969–1971 | service in the Soviet Army[1][2] |
| 1971–1977 | Gorky Polytechnic Institute named after A. A. Zhdanov, mechanical engineering faculty[1][2] |
| 1977–1985 | Institute of Measuring Systems: engineer, bureau chief, deputy shop superintendent, department head[1] |
| 1985–1994 | Institute of Measuring Systems: chief process engineer, deputy chief engineer[1] |
| 1994–2008 | Director of the Research Institute of Measuring Systems named after Yu. E. Sedakov[1][4] |
| from February 21, 2008 | Director of RFNC-VNIIEF, Sarov[1][4] |
Research and Teaching
Candidate of Technical Sciences from 1997, Doctor of Technical Sciences from 2008 — he defended his doctoral dissertation at Lobachevsky University in Nizhny Novgorod; professor at the Department of Computer Science and Automation of Scientific Research at that university since 2011.[1][3][4]
He heads a branch of the Department of Computer Science and Automation of Scientific Research established at the nuclear center.[3] He is the author of more than one hundred scientific works, including two monographs, and holds six patents and inventor's certificates.[1][3]
Awards and Titles
- Order of the Venerable Seraphim of Sarov, 3rd class[1]
- Distinguished Badge "Academician I. V. Kurchatov," 1st class[1]
- Badge "Veteran of Nuclear Energy and Industry"[2]
| Year | Award, title |
|---|---|
| 1973 | Medal "For Distinguished Labor"[1] |
| 1995 | Order of Honor[1][3] |
| 1999 | Order "For Services to the Fatherland," 4th class[1][3] |
| 2004 | State Prize of the Russian Federation in Science and Technology[1][4] |
| 2009 | Honorary Citizen of Nizhny Novgorod Region[1] |
| 2010 | Honorary Doctor of Nizhny Novgorod State Technical University n.a. R.E. Alekseev[1] |
| February 21, 2011 | Order "For Services to the Fatherland," 3rd class[1][4] |
| April 28, 2018 | title of Hero of the Russian Federation with the award of the Gold Star Medal — for courage and heroism displayed in the line of duty[1] |
| 2019 | Honorary Professor of the Russian Academy of Sciences; Distinguished Professor of Lobachevsky University in Nizhny Novgorod[1] |
See also
- Russian Federal Nuclear Center — All-Russian Research Institute of Experimental Physics
- Sarov
- Gorky Polytechnic Institute
- Nizhny Novgorod Association of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs
Sources
- warheroes.ru — Heroes of the Country — Kostyukov Valentin Yefimovich (archive)
- lib-avt.ru — Libraries of Avtozavodsky District — Kostyukov Valentin Yefimovich (archive)
- itmm.unn.ru — Lobachevsky University — Kostyukov Valentin Yefimovich (archive)
- atomic-energy.ru — Atomic Energy 2.0 — Kostyukov Valentin Yefimovich (archive)
- ngsarov.ru — Novy Gorod Sarov — Valentin Kostyukov: on the nuclear center's achievements and plans for 2025 (archive)
- ras.ru — Russian Academy of Sciences — RFNC-VNIIEF Director Valentin Kostyukov presented the "Tianoks" device at the Military-Industrial Commission collegium (archive)
- duma-sarov.ru — Duma of Sarov — Valentin Kostyukov — on the present and future of the nuclear center and the city (archive)