Elena K. Sokova

Executive Director
"This is a nice short quote"

Areas of Research

  • Fissile materials security and control
  • International organisations and regimes in non-proliferation and disarmament
  • Nuclear non-proliferation issues in Eurasia
  • Nuclear non-proliferation and international safeguards
  • Non-proliferation and disarmament education and training

Background

Elena K. Sokova is the Executive Director of the Vienna Center for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation (VCDNP). Her primary research areas are international organisations and regimes in nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, fissile materials security and control, nuclear non-proliferation issues in Eurasia, as well as non-proliferation and disarmament education and training. Prior to her post in Vienna, Elena served as Deputy Director of the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS) at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, where she had worked since 1997. Her early career started at the Soviet/Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Elena K. Sokova has authored numerous articles, book chapters, reports, and other publications on non-proliferation and nuclear security. Between 2014 and 2015, she was a member of the Global Agenda Council on Nuclear Security of the World Economic Forum. In 2015, she also chaired a Fissile Material Working Group on ending the use of highly enriched uranium (HEU) in civilian applications. Elena serves on the Advisory Board of International Youth/Student Pugwash and on the Advisory Board of the Young Women and Next Generation Initiative of the EU Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Consortium. She also is an International Gender Champion and a Gender Champion in Nuclear Policy.

Education

Elena K. Sokova holds a Master’s degree in International Public Administration from the Monterey Institute of International Studies (2000) and a Law Degree from Moscow State University (1992).

Related Content

VCDNP Co-Hosts Side Event on the HCoC and the Evolving Space Technology and Environment
The VCDNP co-hosted a side event on the Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation (HCoC), exploring the opportunities and concerns in the evolving space environment.
2 June 2026 • 
Reflecting on the Outcomes of the NPT: A Conversation with EU Special Envoy for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Stephan Klement
A few days after the conclusion of the 2026 NPT Review Conference, the VCDNP hosted a webinar with Amb. Stephan Klement, EU Special Envoy for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation to reflect on its outcomes. The event was organized under the Young Women and Next Generation Initiative.
1 June 2026 • 
Young Women in Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Mentorship Programme – 5th Edition Final Meeting
The final meeting of the 2025–2026 the YWNGI Mentorship Programme was held on 18 May 2026. The event brought together mentees, mentors, and experts from the field to exchange insights, celebrate the mentees’ achievements, and reflect on the outcomes and impact of the Programme.
21 May 2026 • 
Negotiating Nuclear Verification: Arms Control, Disarmament and Non-Proliferation
A new VCDNP report examines how nuclear verification is negotiated in practice, exploring the trade-offs, tools and political dynamics that shape verification across arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation
30 April 2026 • 
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