(KYIV) – Ukraine has announced the launch of what it is calling an Energy Ramstein initiative, aimed at coordinating international support to address severe shortages of electricity and heating caused by continued Russian attacks on energy infrastructure.
The initiative is named after the Ramstein format, the international group that coordinates military assistance for Ukraine, and is intended to bring together partners to focus specifically on energy security. The move comes as damage to power facilities across the country has left large numbers of people without reliable electricity and heating during winter.
Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko has instructed the Ministry of Energy to convene a dedicated coordination body tasked with developing additional energy support from Ukraine’s international partners. The aim is to improve cooperation, accelerate assistance and ensure that urgent needs are met as quickly as possible.
According to a statement shared on social media by Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, many European countries are already contributing to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund. He said these contributions are helping to stabilise the energy system and support repairs following repeated strikes.
The United Kingdom announced additional emergency funding on Friday amounting to 27 million US dollars, which is approximately 191.7 billion Ukrainian hryvnias at current exchange rates. The funding is intended to help repair, restore and protect Ukraine’s electricity grid from further damage.
President Volodymyr Zelensky declared a state of emergency earlier this week following sustained Russian attacks on critical power infrastructure. The strikes have disrupted electricity and heating supplies in multiple regions, leaving thousands of households without basic services.
The situation has been made more difficult by falling temperatures, with night time readings approaching minus 20 degrees Celsius in some areas. Ukrainian authorities have warned that restoring and protecting energy infrastructure is essential to prevent further humanitarian hardship during the winter months.
Officials in Kyiv say the Energy Ramstein initiative is designed to ensure a more structured and predictable flow of international assistance, as Ukraine continues to face pressure on its civilian infrastructure from the ongoing war.
