Ukraine’s energy security has become a critical concern as a result of Russia’s attacks on its energy supply. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre asserts that Ukraine is consistently striving to guarantee that the population has access to electricity for their basic necessities, while Russia is undertaking extensive and structured attacks to disrupt the power supply. Bombing power facilities and other critical infrastructure is an attempt by Russia to undermine Ukrainian resistance. New estimates indicate that Ukraine’s power production has been devastated by more than 50%.
Russia’s strikes on Ukraine’s energy supplies have highlighted the importance of energy security, prompting Norway to focus on the Nansen initiative for civilian and military support. The initiative has allocated around NOK 75 billion (about USD 7.3 billion) to Ukraine for 2023-2027. Since the full-scale invasion, Norway has spent billions of dollars on gas imports, essential infrastructure repairs, and the running of Ukraine’s energy company.
This fresh donation of 1.1 billion kroner (about US$105 million) will assist Ukraine in rebuilding essential infrastructure.
“We are in close dialogue with Ukraine on how the funds can best be used. They know their needs best. However, it is important to repair the infrastructure quickly before winter comes. With this support, Norway aims to mitigate the extent of the damage and ensure electricity in Ukraine,” says Støre.
Norway has already determined that 120 million kroner (about USD 11.54 million) will be channeled through the UN Development Programme. This will be used to rebuild energy infrastructure in the Kharkiv region, which has been especially heavily struck by Russian attacks this spring. This has caused considerable damage to the facilities and installations that supply electricity.
“These funds will, among other things, be used to secure the power supply to maternity and surgical departments in seven hospitals in the Kharkiv area. In some cases, access to electricity can be the difference between life and death,” says Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.
“We hear today that even in the warmest months of the year, the population in Kharkiv must save electricity at night. Also, in Kyiv and large parts of the rest of the country, there are now regular power outages in the summer to save for the winter. Think about how it will be in winter. The winters in Ukraine are cold and harsh, and it is crucial that people have access to electricity and heat,” says Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide.
