EU sends €3.7 million worth of emergency generators to Ukraine
Ukraine to receive generators worth €3.7 million from EU strategic reserves (photo: facebook.com/Vitaliy.Klychko2)
The European Commission announced the deployment of 447 emergency generators worth €3.7 million from EU strategic reserves. They will be sent to restore electricity supply to hospitals, shelters, and critical services in Ukraine, according to the European Commission.
"The generators - mobilized from 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 statement said.
The European Commission explained that this decision is aimed at covering urgent needs and is part of the EU's ongoing support for Ukraine's energy resilience.
Since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, the European Union has delivered nearly 10,000 generators to Ukraine through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM).
In addition, ahead of winter, the European Commission completed the relocation of a full thermal power plant donated by Lithuania. This became the largest coordinated logistics operation in the history of the Civil Protection Mechanism and enabled the restoration of critical capacity in Ukraine's energy system.
Since the beginning of the full-scale war, the European Commission has allocated more than €1.2 billion in humanitarian aid to protect Ukraine's civilian population and delivered more than 160,000 tonnes of assistance through the UCPM.
This includes solid fuel, heaters, generators, and emergency heating points.
Separately, the EU has provided Ukraine with at least €3 billion to ensure energy security. Ahead of winter, the Commission also mobilized €927 million for emergency gas purchases, while EU electricity export capacity is currently at its maximum level.
Difficult energy situation
After continuous Russian strikes on energy infrastructure, more than one million Ukrainians were left without electricity, water, and heating in subzero temperatures.
According to Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, the most difficult situation developed in Kyiv and five other regions.
On January 21, DTEK (Ukraine's largest private energy company) reported that electricity supply had been restored to all critical infrastructure facilities in the capital after the massive Russian attack on January 20.
At the same time, Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal stated that January 22 was the most difficult day for Ukraine's energy system since the November 2022 blackout.
Against this backdrop, Mykolaiv Regional Military Administration head Vitaliy Kim urged residents to prepare for a prolonged power outage.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs, for its part, advised Ukrainians to stock up on water and food for several days due to the energy sector emergency.
Today, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko appealed to residents to temporarily leave the capital if possible due to a "very difficult energy situation" following massive Russian attacks. Notably, Klitschko made this appeal for the second time in January.
