The Ontario government is donating $1 million to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund, an international effort to maintain and repair the country’s critical energy infrastructure, Premier Doug Ford announced Wednesday at a meeting with the political network United for Ukraine.
As the conflict between Ukraine and Russia stretches into its fifth year, and with the coming winter months expected to strain Ukraine’s fragile energy grid, the donation will support Ukrainians defending their country.
“As the people of Ukraine continue to defend their country against Russia’s illegal invasion and ongoing attacks, including on civilians, Ontario will always stand with those defending freedom and democracy,” said Ford. “Ontario’s donation to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund will help Ukraine respond to Russian attacks and repair damage to vital infrastructure so the country can continue to defend their sovereignty today and for generations to come.”
The Ukraine Energy Support Fund, established under the direction of the Energy Community Secretariat in Vienna, helps stabilize Ukrainian electricity, heating and water services threatened by Russian attacks. Ontario’s $1 million donation is the largest contribution to the fund to date from a Canadian province.
“Russia continues to systematically target Ukraine’s critical energy infrastructure, seeking to use the coming winter as a weapon against the Ukrainian people,” said Andrii Plakhotniuk, Ambassador of Ukraine to Canada. “This will be the fifth winter since the start of Russia’s full-scale, brutal armed aggression in which Ukrainians face deliberate attacks on the energy infrastructure that keeps their homes warm, their lights on and essential services running.”
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Ontario has welcomed more than 90,000 Ukrainians fleeing the conflict and established a $1.9 million Ontario-Ukraine Solidarity Scholarship program for students attending publicly assisted colleges and universities in the province.
“Last year, Ontario stepped up by deploying nearly $5 million in energy equipment to Ukraine including critical equipment like transformers and generators,” said Stephen Lecce, Minister of Energy and Mines. “As Putin continues his relentless attacks on critical energy infrastructure, Ontario stands firmly with the people of Ukraine by contributing to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund.”
