Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmigal on Monday put at $1 billion (about 950 million euros) the assistance needed for the country to repair the electricity system and the heating network, severely affected by Russian attacks against the country.
Shmigal indicated that «to fully restore the country’s electrical system, $500 million (about 475 million euros) in emergency aid is needed, while another $500 million is needed to restore the heating sector».
Thus, he regretted that the latest attacks perpetrated by the Russian forces against energy infrastructures have caused «half of these systems to be damaged» throughout the country, as reported by the Ukrinform news agency.
This damage has led to the «destabilization of the electricity system and the need to carry out scheduled and unscheduled cuts in supply», an issue that «affects all sectors of the economy and social life in Ukraine».
«If we talk about the overall assessment of recovery needs, in early September the World Bank, the European Commission and the Government presented a report with the first conclusions in this regard,» he has asserted.
In total, it is estimated that funds worth $349 million (330 million euros) are needed until June 1, 2022, although earlier reports had put this figure at around $500 million.
«Ukraine already needs help. I ask you, my friends, to give us the urgent assistance we need for recovery. We are aware that we have to prove that we meet European criteria and standards to join as a full member and we are determined to act,» he said.
