News item | 28-10-2025 | 12:30
In recent weeks, Ukraine has been hit hard by targeted Russian attacks on its energy infrastructure, just as the cold winter months are approaching. The Russian attacks largely destroyed both the gas infrastructure and the electricity grid, resulting in major blackouts. More than 12 million Ukrainian citizens are at risk of being left in the cold and dark this winter.
With the attacks, Russia is not only trying to cause as much damage as possible, but also to break Ukrainian morale and disrupt the economy. In addition to anti-aircraft capacity, support for emergency repairs to the energy infrastructure is therefore essential for Ukraine.
The government has reserved money for 2026 to help Ukraine in acute emergencies, and is now spending €25 million on additional energy support.
Of that money, €10 million goes to emergency repairs and equipment, €10 million is intended for gas purchases abroad and €5 million goes to the purchase of reserve material from (Dutch) companies and organizations.
The government has previously made €58 million in energy support available for 2026. That money also goes to reserve material and repairs, and is also intended to train people to work in the energy sector. The €25 million in acute energy support is on top of this.
State Secretary De Vries: “We remain firmly behind Ukraine. Of course with military support, but aid for the energy sector is also of vital importance for Ukraine. The economy and society must continue to run, even now that winter is approaching. We will help with that.”
The amounts are part of money that the government previously set aside for 2025 and 2026 for non-military support to Ukraine. In total this amounts to €252 million per year.