We allot USD 116 million in grant aid to restore heat supply in frontline communities: Oleksii Kuleba
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has adopted a resolution allowing an additional $116 million in grant funds to be allocated to restore critical heat supply infrastructure in frontline regions and ensure a stable winter period. This is the second stage of a joint with the World Bank Restoration Project of Winterization and Energy Resources.
Seven cities in frontline regions shall receive new equipment to restore and protect critical infrastructure: Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Sumy, Mykolaiv, Kryvyi Rih, Kremenchuk, and Slavuta. Before the project was expanded, assistance was focused only on Kharkiv.
"russia continues its energy terrorism, trying to leave Ukrainians without heat and light. We are directing funds to support heat supply, primarily in frontline regions and cities. Thanks to the expansion of cooperation with the World Bank, cities such as Sumy, Mykolaiv, Chernihiv, and others will receive the necessary equipment to keep people warm despite the enemy's active attempts to destroy our infrastructure," emphasized Deputy Prime Minister for the Restoration of Ukraine — Minister for Communities and Territories Development Oleksii Kuleba.
The list of equipment that municipal enterprises are to receive includes:
- mobile and stationary water heating boilers,
- mobile mini-cogeneration units,
- pump units,
- pipes and components for repairing heating networks,
- equipment for alternative heat sources.
Previously, the Ministry for Communities and Territories Development and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) signed an agreement to expand cooperation, which provided for additional funding and extended the project until the end of April 2027.
Therefore, procurement and logistics will be carried out by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS). The involvement of an international organization guarantees the transparency of the process, fast delivery of equipment directly to communities, and compliance with international standards. This is critical for the urgent restoration of heat supply in communities most affected by shelling.
Background information
The funds are allocated under the grant agreement of the Multi-Donor Ukraine Relief, Recovery, Reconstruction and Reform Trust Fund (URTF) between Ukraine and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD). In the first phase of cooperation under the URTF programme, Ukraine received a grant of USD 47 million, which enabled the delivery of 45 units of power equipment to Kharkiv.