Following relentless Russian strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, the EU is deploying 447 emergency generators worth €3.7 million from EU strategic reserves to restore power to hospitals, shelters and critical services.
The Russian strikes have left over one million Ukrainians without electricity, water and heating in freezing temperatures pf -20°C.
The generators – mobilised from the EU’s rescEU strategic reserves hosted in Poland – will be distributed by the Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine in cooperation with the Ukrainian Red Cross to the most affected communities.
The mobilisation is designed to address urgent needs and builds on continuous EU support to Ukraine’s energy resilience. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion began, the EU has sent near 10,000 generators to Ukraine through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. Ahead of this winter, the Commission also completed the relocation of a full thermal power plant donated by Lithuania – the largest coordinated logistical operation in the Mechanism’s history – to restore critical capacity to Ukraine’s grid.
“Russia’s continued attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure are deliberately depriving civilians of heat, light and basic services in the middle of harsh winter,” said EU Commissioner Hadja Lahbib: “They are designed to break Ukrainian spirit. They will fail. Europe responds with action, not words. The new shipment of generators is already on the way, adding to more than 9,500 EU-provided generators already providing power across Ukraine.”
The Commission has strongly condemned Russia’s attacks on critical energy infrastructure and the humanitarian harm they cause. The EU is determined not to let Russia freeze Ukraine into submission and will continue helping Ukrainians to get through this winter.
Ahead of the winter, the Commission mobilised €927 million for emergency gas purchases in Ukraine, and EU electricity export capacity is at a maximum level.
