​Ukrainian power grid operator Ukrenergo announced that it will receive loans from European institutions in the amount of more than 400 million euros for the purchase of equipment needed to restore the energy infrastructure damaged by Russian missile attacks, Kyiv Independent reports.

Ukraine’s power grid destroyed by RussiaPhoto: Andriy Kravchenko / AP / Profimedia

“Ukrenergo” announced that the government offered state guarantees for obtaining a EUR 300 million loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

In addition to the EBRD loan, half of which will be guaranteed by the United States, Ukrenergo will receive a grant of 72 million euros from the Dutch government “for quick and urgent elimination of damages caused by heavy bombing of civilian energy infrastructure.”

The government of Ukraine also provides a state guarantee for “Ukrenergo” to receive a loan of 32.5 million euros from the German state bank KfW for the repair of eight damaged stations “in the south-western region”, reports the state energy grid operator.

Ukrenergo added that the repair process will begin as soon as the loan and guarantee agreement with KfW is signed.

“Today, a key task for us is to provide Ukrainians with electricity in this difficult winter for all of us,” Ukrengo said on December 10.

Ukrenergo’s statement comes as Russia steps up its campaign to destroy Ukraine’s energy infrastructure amid setbacks on the battlefield. The head of Ukrenergo, Volodymyr Kudrytskyi, recently stated that Russia has launched more than 1,000 missiles and drones for energy purposes since the campaign began on October 10.

According to Ukrenergo, Ukraine is trying to rebuild its energy infrastructure as it faces a “significant” energy deficit, but the process remains difficult due to limited resources and Russia’s continued bombing of energy infrastructure across the country.

Scheduled and emergency shutdowns are ongoing. On December 10, President Volodymyr Zelenskyi said that more than 1.5 million people in Odesa, as well as in the region, were left without electricity due to drone attacks from Friday to Saturday on several energy facilities in the region.

Repair is in progress.