Solutions to win: Estonia allocates €56 mln for Zhytomyr region recovery

During 2024-2027, Estonia will allocate another €56 million to implement projects in the Zhytomyr region.

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Estonia to Ukraine Anneli Kolk discussed this in an interview with Ukrinform.

What is the problem?

According to already documented data, as of the first year of the full-scale invasion, at least 828 civil infrastructure objects were damaged by artillery shelling in the Zhytomyr region during the period under study.

At the beginning of Russia's aggression, the enemy mercilessly shelled the critical infrastructure of the Zhytomyr region. In total, the Russians destroyed 70 kindergartens and schools in the area.

"Several times, I have been asked why Estonia is doing this. Are we not afraid that the kindergarten we built will be destroyed again? I always say that we have to give people hope. Those living in Ovruch and Malyn should not look at the ruins daily.

We want people who left Ukraine because of the war to return home. If the terrorist country Russia drops a bomb on a kindergarten, we will build a new one," the ambassador added.

What is the solution?

"Estonia was one of the first countries that joined the reconstruction of Ukraine at the height of the war two years ago. In 2022, we allocated €4 million; in 2023 — €8 million, and €56 million are planned for 2024-2027.

Considering the possibilities of our budget, we chose the Zhytomyr region for assistance, where we have already implemented many projects. In particular, we helped build a kindergarten in Ovruch, together with Zhytomyr regional military administration, and restored a bridge in Malyn," the Estonian diplomat said.

How does it work?

According to Kolk, Estonia plans to implement more than ten projects in the Zhytomyr region:

restore the art school in Malyn,
build a shelter for seven orphanages,
reconstruct a building for housing for internally displaced persons in Ovruch
.
In addition, capsules were laid in the Zhytomyr community for the construction of three family-type children's homes.

We will remind you that in the Zhytomyr region, the Estonian manufacturer of modular houses, Harmet, completed the construction of a kindergarten in the town of Ovruch.

A bridge was also officially opened in Malyn, which was rebuilt with the support of Estonia. The crossing was destroyed on March 6, 2022, when the enemy carried out airstrikes on Malyn, separating the two parts of the city.

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