USAID delivers 105 generators worth $2.7 million dollars to Ukrainian Railways
Photo: Ukrzaliznytsia
On Monday, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) handed over 105 diesel generators to Ukrzaliznytsia Ukrainian Railways.
The Ukrzaliznytsia press service reported this.
What is the problem?
During the full-scale invasion, the Russian army destroyed thousands of houses and destroyed hundreds of critical energy infrastructure facilities. Ukrainian Railways have repeatedly suffered from missile and drone attacks. Railway tracks and electrical substations at railway stations were destroyed.
What is the solution?
The Ukrainian railway network is one of the most extensive in Europe, with more than 20,000 km of tracks, 45% of which are electrified. The generators provided by USAID as part of the Energy Security Project will be installed at key stations on the main routes of passenger and freight trains.
"They will help Ukrzaliznytsia provide a backup power supply for traction substations, railway automation, and telecommunication devices and maintain uninterrupted communication with adjacent distribution system operators," said the Deputy Prime Minister for Reconstruction of Ukraine, Minister of Community and Territorial Development and Infrastructure, Oleksandr Kubrakov
How does it work?
Aid worth $2.7 million from USAID will help Ukrzaliznytsia, one of the operators of the distribution system in Ukraine, provide backup electricity supply to more than 100,000 consumers and contribute to the smooth transportation of passengers and cargo within Ukraine, the company says.
"Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine, the United States has been supporting Ukraine to ensure the uninterrupted operation of critical infrastructure facilities, one of which is Ukrzaliznytsia," said US Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink. "The United States government has provided one hundred generators to the Ukrzaliznytsia state-owned rail carrier through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which is part of more than 3,300 generators provided to Ukraine since the beginning of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine."
These generators will strengthen the energy sustainability of Ukrzaliznytsia by reserving power supply for more than 100,000 consumers and facilitating uninterrupted transportation of passengers and cargo within Ukraine. "The US government continues to support Ukraine in providing its brave nation with all the necessary resources to build a peaceful, secure, and stable future," the ambassador added.
Photo: Ukrzaliznytsia
Ukraine's railway network is fully integrated with the networks of neighboring countries: Belarus, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Hungary.
"This winter has shown that we must be ready for any challenges. Not only to ensure the smooth operation of the railway station but also to fulfill a social function for our people," said Yevhen Liashchenko, head of the board. "Despite constant shelling, not a single train was canceled. Our stations have become real 'Fortresses of invincibility,' where there was always light and warmth. We received and continue to receive tremendous help from our partners."
He also thanked the US Agency for International Development and the US Embassy in Ukraine, which continue to cooperate and meet the needs of the Ukrainian railways in the equipment necessary for the stable operation of critical infrastructure facilities, the supply of electricity to distribution system stations, and the safety of train traffic. The next batch of industrial generators will be used at such facilities in the Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Odesa, Kyiv, and Lviv regions.
The company added that the generators provided by USAID to Ukrzaliznytsia would enable uninterrupted transportation of passengers and cargo to and from Ukraine.
