Germany announced on Thursday that it will provide an additional €100 million ($117 million) to support Ukraine’s battered energy sector, signaling continued backing despite a major corruption scandal uncovered in November.
The funds, channeled through Germany’s KfW development bank, will be donated to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund (UESF), bringing Berlin’s total contribution to €550 million by the end of 2025.
JOIN US ON TELEGRAM
Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official.
This comes on top of €60 million already pledged this year.
The UESF, created under the Energy Community, finances the purchase of equipment and spare parts needed to repair Ukraine’s energy infrastructure after relentless Russian attacks. Procurement is conducted through transparent, competitive tenders, and the fund monitors how the money is used.
Ukraine faces one of its most difficult winters since the full-scale invasion, with Moscow again targeting critical energy facilities in an effort to plunge cities into darkness and cold.
But Kyiv’s efforts to reinforce its grid were shaken last month when investigators exposed a sweeping corruption scheme in the energy sector. President Volodymyr Zelensky ordered two ministers to resign and sanctioned a former business partner accused of orchestrating the scheme.
Berlin insists the scandal will not alter its commitment. Chancellor Friedrich Merz has urged Kyiv to “energetically advance anti-corruption measures,” while the Economy Ministry said KfW will “continue to strictly monitor compliance with its regulations” in light of the investigations.
Ukraine Summit in London: What Was Achieved?
“Russia is consistently and deliberately attacking Ukraine’s energy infrastructure in order to turn winter into another weapon,” Economy Minister Katherina Reiche said.
Energy supply, she added, has become “a front of its own.”
“We will not leave the Ukrainian people alone. Protecting energy supplies means protecting people – that is what this is all about.”
During a visit to Kyiv in late October, Reiche reiterated that Berlin “will not leave Ukrainians in trouble” as the country faces another difficult winter under Russian attacks.
At a joint press conference with Ukrainian Energy Minister Svitlana Hrynchuk, Reiche pledged continued German assistance to restore infrastructure damaged by Russian strikes.
She added that Germany has already helped supply heat and electricity to more than one million Ukrainians by providing 32,000 units of equipment.
“Many Kyiv residents, like me and my delegation, spent last night in shelters. For us, it was a unique and depressing experience. Unfortunately, for Ukrainians, this is a bitter everyday life,” she said.
Reiche also recalled Germany’s long-term commitments, including €9 billion in annual support and the delivery of additional Patriot air defense systems. Germany has supplied three Patriot batteries since the start of the full-scale invasion.
Her Oct. 24 trip marked her first visit to Ukraine as Minister of Economics.
You can also highlight the text and press Ctrl + Enter
