The UK has unveiled a new emergency energy support of $27m for Ukraine. The announcement was made on Friday after President Volodymyr Zelenskiy declared a state of emergency following sustained Russian attack on Ukraine’s energy grid.
Relentless Russian attacks knocked out power across Ukraine last week, leaving hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians, including children and schools, without heat and electricity as temperatures across the country fall to as low as minus 20 degrees Celsius. Zelenskiy revealed on Friday that the country was presently meeting only 60% of its electricity needs due to Russian strikes on energy infrastructure. Zelenskiy said electricity generation capacity was 11 gigawatts on Thursday, with the country needing 18 gigawatts.
The energy support loan will address urgent needs to ensure heating and power remain available for millions of families, children, and older people. This funding will deliver critical emergency assistance to repair, restore, safeguard, and generate energy supplies nationwide, helping to keep homes, hospitals, and schools warm and powered throughout the severe winter months.
The UK decision to offer an emergency energy loan to Kyiv, comes on the fist anniversary of landmark 100 year partnership between the 2 countries celebrated in Kyiv today on Friday.
Russia believes Ukraine’s energy grid is a legitimate target as striking it undermines’ Kyiv’s war capabilities. Ukraine, however accused Russia of deliberately targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure. Denys Shmyhal, whom Zelenskiy put in charge of the energy ministry, said this week that the most difficult situations were in Kyiv, Kharkiv, the main port Odesa, and towns near the front line.
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