Belgium is releasing additional support to help repair damaged energy infrastructure in the war-torn country, regularly targeted by the invading Russian Army.
Caroline Gennez, Minister for Development Cooperation, confirmed on Friday that Belgium will free up €9 million to help restore energy infrastructure in Ukraine. Russia regularly carries out attacks on Ukrainian power plants and other energy infrastructure – an attack in March saw 10 major power plants destroyed in a single day. Since the invasion of Ukraine more than two years ago, half of all Ukrainian energy infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed.
"Hundreds of thousands of people depend on these power stations for heating, cooking and washing," Gennez said. "Children's education, which is provided online close to the front line because of the constant bombing of schools, has also been interrupted as a result."
She added that making life as difficult as possible for the Ukrainian population behind the front line with the aim to break them psychologically is "a tried and tested tactic by Putin".
Crucial support for civilians
The sum of money, part of a new package of support measures from Belgium for Ukraine, will go to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), a UN organisation specialising in eliminating poverty and achieving sustainable economic growth. In turn, it will use the money to restore energy infrastructure around Kharkiv, a city in eastern Ukraine close to the front.
The country's current energy infrastructure is antiquated and highly centralised, making it vulnerable to attack by Russian missiles. The UN agency is therefore also focusing on more sustainable and decentralised energy sources, such as solar panels, so the destruction of one installation does not immediately leave hundreds of thousands without power.
Gennez recognised that the Ukrainian army also needs more weapons and anti-aircraft defences to repel Russian attacks – in recent weeks, Russia has once again stepped up its attacks on the Ukrainian population, with at least 126 civilians being killed in March alone – she noted it is also crucial to support the civilian population in Ukraine "so that they have the courage to carry on. This is the only way for Ukraine to stand firm in the face of Russian aggression."
