The EU denounces that Russia has destroyed 30% of Ukrainian energy infrastructure

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A Russian tank bombards the Azofstal factory. / REUTERS

Brussels will support the reconstruction of the country’s electricity grid through a fund of 20.5 million euros

Russia has been bombing Ukraine’s energy infrastructure for weeks, with the aim of damaging its power grid. Brussels has warned this Tuesday that Moscow has already destroyed or damaged destroyed or caused damage to 30% of the country’s facilities, which already suffers from blackouts. The European Union (EU) has promised to support the reconstruction of these infrastructures through a fund of 20.5 million euros, “but more help is needed,” said the Commissioner for Energy, Kadri Simson.

The recovery of the Ukrainian electricity network is essential for the winter. The bombings could leave millions of people without electricity, heat and water, in a country that already experiences temperatures below freezing overnight. Simson has written a letter asking for “emergency aid” for kyiv.

Months ago the EU created a fund to collect donations and allocate them to the repair of Ukrainian energy facilities. The fund currently has 20.5 million euros, but Brussels fears that it will not be enough to deal with the damage. For this reason, it has asked the Member States to donate what they can, both money and energy equipment.

“Private companies have also been generous and have sent 10 million euros in energy equipment to kyiv,” said Simson, who added that the country also needs diesel and gasoline.

The energy crisis in Ukraine has also hit Moldova, a neighboring country that imports about 30% of its energy from kyiv. “It’s a big problem,” the commissioner acknowledged. Last week, the country received the news that Gazprom will reduce the supply of gas to the country, which will also reduce the flow of this energy from Transnistria. “It is one more example that Russia is using gas as a weapon.”

The Moldovan authorities try to obtain energy from alternative suppliers, such as Romania, “but it is not enough,” warned Simson, who has assured that the country also needs financing. At the moment, the European Commission is studying how to strengthen its aid to Moldova.

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