[1][2] It was seen as a counter-project to the (later scrapped) plan to build the Visaginas nuclear power plant in Lithuania and was considered not only as an energy, but also as a geopolitical project.

[3][4] Originally intending to commission the reactors in 2016 and 2018, construction was temporarily stopped in June 2013 for the project to be redesigned for lower power output after neighbouring countries showed no interest in importing its electricity.

[10][11] Sergey Boyarkin said that the shutdown of Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant combined with Polish plans to scrap coal-fired generation in compliance with environmental regulation meant that the Baltic region faced an energy crisis by 2015.

[13] He also mentioned technical complications and unreliability in electricity transfer from Smolensk Nuclear Power Plant, which was the main supplier of Kaliningrad Oblast, via Belarus and Lithuania.

[11] A framework construction agreement was signed between the head of Rosatom Sergei Kiriyenko and Governor of Kaliningrad Oblast Georgy Boos on 16 April 2008.

[5][6] On 4 July 2013, Sergey Kiriyenko, head of Rosatom, announced that both units would be built like previously planned, with two VVER-1200 and no smaller reactor.