Ukraine restores critical infrastructure despite lack of promised EU support – Zelenskyy

Ukraine is restoring 245 critical infrastructure facilities damaged by Russia and has begun work despite a lack of funding, with the European €90 billion support package still blocked.

Source: Zelenskyy on X (Twitter)

Details: Following a remote meeting on the energy situation Zelenskyy wrote that "245 facilities across the country are already in progress – and we started this work despite a lack of funding".

"The European support package of €90 billion for Ukraine remains blocked. And this is a problem that Europeans cannot find a solution and deliver on what was promised," the president stated.

"€5 billion from this package was supposed to go specifically toward preparing Ukraine for the next winter and for rapid recovery. We expect that a solution will still be found," Zelenskyy wrote on X (Twitter).

Work is currently being carried out using available resources, in preparation for the next winter and to repair what Russian strikes destroyed this winter.

The president stressed that it is important at the hromadas level and at the regional authority level not to waste time. [A hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories – ed.] Every facility that matters must be protected.

"There are clear tasks for the regions and major cities regarding alternative generation and the restoration of facilities. Government officials have now ensured the necessary resources and decisions to add cogeneration units to the system," he stated.

Background:

• Ukraine is allocating over UAH 22 billion (approx. US$ 502 million) in priority funding for preparation for Ukraine's next heating season.
• Hromadas in Ukraine will connect 75 existing cogeneration units to the grid with a combined electrical capacity of nearly 100 MW and thermal capacity of 107 MW, Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko announced.
• The government has allocated over UAH 400 million (approx. US$ 9.1 million) for the installation of modular boiler units with a combined capacity of over 372 MW in five regions of Ukraine.
• The Association of Critical Infrastructure Operators stated that from 1 April, district heating companies across Ukraine are halting cogeneration and ceasing to produce hundreds of megawatts of electricity, as the Cabinet of Ministers adopted changes to the provisions on special obligations in the gas market.

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