The European Investment Bank (EIB) has announced EUR 16.5 million in EU-backed funding to renew urban public transport in Kyiv, Mykolaiv, Ivano-Frankivsk and Odesa. Backed by an EU guarantee, this operation is part of the EIB’s Ukraine Solidarity Urgent Response package, developed in close collaboration with the European Commission. Previously, EUR 17.25 million has been allocated for the renewal of urban public transport essential for keeping Ukrainian cities moving for both business operations and residents in their daily lives.
Currently, Lviv has completed the acquisition of 10 new trams, Lutsk has introduced 27 low-floor trolleybuses, Kyiv now operates 20 low-floor trams, Sumy residents benefit from 19 new trolleybuses, and Kharkiv has added 27 new trolleybuses to its fleet. Other cities continue to move forward, showcasing their resilience and commitment to renewing urban transport infrastructure.
The new funding will enable the purchase of new buses, dual trolleybuses and trams, along with essential spare parts and maintenance equipment, ensuring reliable and efficient public transport operations in these cities. The vehicles will be sourced from a Turkish manufacturer and a German/Ukrainian consortium, providing residents with modern, environmentally friendly and comfortable transport.
“By providing new buses and trams for Kyiv, Mykolaiv, Ivano-Frankivsk and Odesa, we aim to support local resilience and ensure safe, sustainable transport for residents. Alongside our EU partners, the EIB is committed to standing with Ukraine, delivering critical investments that not only rebuild but also lay the foundation for a stronger, more sustainable future,” EIB Vice-President Teresa Czerwińska, responsible for the Bank’s operations in Ukraine said.
Since February 2022 over one-third of Ukrainians have been displaced from their homes, and cities like Kyiv, Mykolaiv, Ivano-Frankivsk and Odesa have received significant numbers of internally displaced persons from occupied territories. This investment will help these cities handle increased urban public transport demand, improve mobility within the cities’ borders, and build resilience while promoting sustainable and accessible transportation solutions.
“We are not just replacing what was lost but bringing in new, reliable and comfortable transport to serve our people, even in the hardest times. This is how we respond to destruction by rebuilding, improving, and moving forward. We are grateful to our European partners, particularly the European Investment Bank, for their support in this process,” Deputy Prime Minister for Restoration of Ukraine – Minister for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine Oleksii Kuleba, said.
This initiative is part of the broader Ukraine Urban Public Transport project, a EUR 200 million loan from the EIB, complemented by EUR 3.5 million in technical assistance from the European Union. The project aims to improve urban mobility in ten Ukrainian cities, aligning Ukraine’s public transport systems with EU standards.
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