Belgium to allocate €9 mln for Ukraine's energy infrastructure restoration
Belgium will allocate another €9 million in aid to Ukraine to restore damaged energy infrastructure.
This was stated by Caroline Gennez, the Minister of Development Cooperation, the Belgian broadcaster RTBF reports.
"Ukraine's energy infrastructure is destroyed. It remains highly centralized, which makes it vulnerable. That is why the UNDP (United Nations Development Program – ed.) emphasizes the need for the development of sustainable and decentralized energy sources," Gennez emphasized.
The Belgian government added that through the UN, they will help restore the energy infrastructure around Kharkiv, which is currently under daily shelling by the Russian army.
"Together with military support, this will help strengthen the stability of Ukraine," they added at the UNDP.
It is reported that Belgium will allocate €9 million euros to support projects within the framework of the UN Development Program, which specializes in economic development.
Under this program, the first electric generators arrived in Ukraine after the beginning of Russia's invasion, and later, spare parts and equipment were supplied to repair energy infrastructure damaged by shelling, the media outlet writes.
The latest mass attacks of the Russian Federation on energy facilities
On the night of April 27, Russian troops attacked the country's energy facilities in the Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Dnipropetrovsk regions, resulting in fires and casualties.
On the morning of April 11, the Russian Federation struck the Trypilska TPP with the newest Kh-6 cruise missile, which completely destroyed the most powerful power plant in the Kyiv region.
On the night of March 29, the Russians launched 60 kamikaze drones and 39 missiles of various types over Ukraine. Air defense managed to destroy 56 drones and 29 missiles. The enemy's main attack was aimed at energy facilities. It is known that the Russians attacked three TPPs in Ukraine and seriously damaged the equipment.
On the night of March 22, the enemy launched more than 150 drones and missiles of various types over Ukraine. Air defense forces shot down 55 Shahed drones and 37 missiles. In a number of cities, critical infrastructure objects were hit.
Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal emphasized that Ukraine's energy system suffered one of the largest air attacks in two years. As a result of the Russian shelling, about 20 substations and power plants, including the Dnipro HPP, were hit.
After the massive attacks, there were power outages in several areas:
- the most difficult situation was in Kharkiv and the region. There are still partial blackouts. As is known, the Zmiivska TPP was seriously damaged in the region.
- In addition, during the attack on March 22, all blocks of the Burshtynska and Ladyzhynska thermal power plants were damaged.
- During the last massive attack, the Trypilska TPP in the Kyiv region was destroyed. Centrenergo lost 100% of generation.