The World Bank said on Wednesday it would finance $200 million to help fix Ukraine's energy and heating infrastructure, with partners and others to provide another $300 million as the project expands.

According to a statement from the World Bank, the $200 million award will be used to urgently repair Ukraine's transition transformers, mobile heat boilers, and other emergency-critical equipment.

As per the statement from the World Bank, over 50% of Ukraine's electrical infrastructure was harmed by Russian attacks on its neighbour over the fall and winter. The statement also noted that the east of Ukraine, the scene of the greatest combat, had been particularly heavily struck.

The funds were provided by the Ukraine Relief, Recovery, Reconstruction and Reform Trust Fund (URTF), with a goal of up to $300 million in additional funding from partners “as the project expands its scope," the Bank said.

The project will target emergency repairs to electricity and heating infrastructure.

“Energy infrastructure has suffered $11 billion in damages over the last year and is one of the most critical areas where Ukraine needs urgent support," said World Bank Managing Director of Operations Anna Bjerde.

The World Bank reported that during the fall and winter, more than half of Ukraine's electricity infrastructure was destroyed, causing nationwide power outages that exacerbated shortages of food, heating fuel, and water.

Since then, most power plants have reconnected to the grid. The World Bank said that considerable transmission substation damage continues to limit their output and causes scheduled load shedding and outages in the majority of regions.

The announcement came just ahead of a roundtable on Ukraine at the headquarters of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), held during the crisis lender’s spring meetings.

During the event, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked partners via video link for their support and urged further backing.

“By rebuilding what has been ruined, we defeat the goal of terror, we return the normal life," he said in English, reiterating a call for Russian assets to be put towards Ukraine’s reconstruction.

Image source: AFP