On May 16, 2023, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) provided 105 diesel generators to the state railway carrier Ukrzaliznytsia JSC. This assistance, worth $2.7 million, will help Ukrzaliznytsia, one of Ukraine’s electricity Distribution System Operators, to back up the power supply to more than 100,000 consumers and contribute to uninterrupted passenger and cargo transportation within Ukraine.
U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink, Deputy Prime Minister for Restoration of Ukraine – Minister for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine Oleksandr Kubrakov, and Chairman of the Board of Ukrzaliznytsia Yevhen Liaschenko announced the generator delivery at an event in Kyiv.
Deputy Prime Minister for Restoration of Ukraine – Minister for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine Oleksandr Kubrakov noted: “Ukraine’s rail network is one of the most extensive in Europe, with over 20,000 km of track, of which 45% is electrified. Generators provided by USAID through the Energy Security Project will be installed at key stations along the main Ukrzaliznytsia’s passenger and cargo train routes. They will help Ukrzaliznytsia back up the power supply for traction substations, railway automation, and telecommunication devices and support uninterrupted operational and process communication with adjacent distribution system operators.
Chairperson of the Management Board of Ukrzaliznytsia JSC Ievgen Lyaschenko noted: “This winter showed that we should be ready for any challenges. Not only to ensure the continuous operation of “Ukrzaliznytsia” but also to perform the social function for our people. Despite the continuous shelling, no one train was canceled, and our train stations became the real “Invincibility Fortresses” with light and heated all the time. We received great help from our partners, and such help is ongoing. My special gratitude to the United States Agency for International Development in Ukraine, which does not stop the cooperation from meeting the needs of “Ukrzaliznytsia” in the equipment necessary for the stable operation of critical infrastructure facilities, from supplying electricity for stations, distribution, and train traffic safety systems. The next batch of industrial generators will be used at such facilities in Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Odesa, Kyiv, and Lviv Oblasts”.
Ukraine’s rail network is fully integrated with the networks of the neighboring countries of Belarus, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Hungary. Generators provided by USAID to Ukrzaliznytsia will enable uninterrupted delivery of passengers and goods to and from Ukraine, which is crucial to bolster the country’s economy.
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Ukrzaliznytsia JSC will continue to cooperate to support the needs of Ukrainian Railways to ensure the stable operation of critical infrastructure facilities, power supply of distribution system stations, and the safety of railway traffic.
About USAID in Ukraine: The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is the leading development agency of the U.S. government. USAID has partnered with Ukraine since 1992, supporting Ukraine to build resilience against Russia’s aggression and advance its democratic and economic development. Currently, 42 USAID activities respond to immediate needs and advance Ukraine’s long-term development as an independent, sovereign, democratic, and prosperous society. Since the start of Russia’s full-scale war on February 24, 2022, USAID has provided $16.75 billion in direct budget support, $1.4 billion in humanitarian assistance, and more than $1 billion in development assistance.