Defense & Security

UN Development Programme Administrator Alexander De Croo visited Ukraine to address the critical state of energy infrastructure and prepare for the fifth winter of full-scale war. During a visit to the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant, he inspected damage to the protective structure over Reactor Four caused by a recent drone strike. De Croo strongly condemned the incident, stating that attacking nuclear installations is unacceptable and endangers millions, while noting that military personnel reported Russian drones flying over the facility daily. Simultaneously, De Croo participated in the opening of a new solar power plant designed to supply electricity to the cooling systems of Reactor Four. This project was implemented with support from Lithuania and Japan, alongside technical expertise from the UNDP. The initiative aligns with the UNDP's broader strategy to transition Ukraine toward a more sustainable and decentralized energy system, having mobilized $1.3 billion over four years to restore the country's energy grid. De Croo highlighted that approximately half of Ukraine's energy infrastructure has been affected by Russian attacks, with repair costs exceeding $600 billion according to World Bank estimates. He emphasized that resilience has limits and that reconstruction efforts will continue despite ongoing hostilities, aiming to ensure essential services like schools, hospitals, and water supplies remain operational during the approaching winter