Today, Administrator Samantha Power arrived in Kyiv to reaffirm the United States' strong commitment to stand with Ukraine in its fight for freedom in the face of Russia's unprovoked aggression. She began the day with an Embassy town hall meeting where she spoke directly to United States Embassy staff and thanked them for their work for and commitment to the U.S.- Ukraine partnership amid exceptionally challenging work conditions and for their personal sacrifices throughout the over 500 days of Russia's full-scale invasion.
Administrator Power then visited the KyivTeploEnergoCombined Heat and Power Plant-5 (CHP-5) to see how USAID assistance helped Ukraine survive the winter. During the visit, Administrator Power spoke with key stakeholders about how USAID is supporting the restoration of Ukraine's energy infrastructure following Russia's targeted attacks, and enabling the development of a modern, sustainable energy system, integrated with European markets, and strengthened by robust anti-corruption and oversight reforms. USAID has mobilized $475 million in emergency funding since January 2022 to help Ukraine repair and maintain its heating and power systems, directly benefiting millions of Ukrainians, through critical transmission equipment to remediate local outages, salt to keep heating pipes from freezing, repair vehicles to respond to Russian attacks, or personal protective equipment for the brave Ukrainian utility workers restoring damaged sites.
Later, Administrator Power visited the State Emergency Services of Ukraine (SESU) to meet with first responders and continue U.S. work to bolster Ukraine's response to the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam by providing $2.3 million in water tank trucks and pump equipment to SESU that will enable the delivery of clean drinking water. SESU first responders provided life-saving support following the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam. Around $1.2 billion of USAID's $19.2 billion in direct budget support received by the Government of Ukraine has reimbursed the salaries of more than 57,000 first responders, including rescuers and psychologists who responded to the humanitarian crisis caused by the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam. At SESU, Administrator Power shared that USAID has committed an additional $500 million in humanitarian assistance to meet the urgent needs of Ukrainians affected by Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This new funding bolsters support for displaced and other conflict-affected populations with emergency food assistance, health care, emergency shelter, safe drinking water and hygiene support, and multipurpose cash assistance. The funding also supports protection - including safe spaces for women and girls and psychosocial support - for the most vulnerable and at-risk populations.
Administrator Power next visited the Save Ukraine Children's Center in Kyiv, which has been supported by USAID. The Center provides education and extracurricular activities for children that have been displaced from their homes, including children who were recently rescued from Russia and Russian-occupied areas, while their parents seek housing and employment. During the visit, Administrator Power met the team working with the children and observed educational and extracurricular activities. Administrator Power also spoke with the CEO and staff about their emergency work since the start of the war. In addition to the Children's Center, USAID also supports the Save Ukraine hotline, a 24/7 hotline for emergency, humanitarian, legal, and psychological support, and two additional Children's Centers in Kharkiv and Kherson. Administrator Power communicated the United States' continued commitment to supporting Ukrainians forcibly displaced by the war, and returning illegally-deported children to government-controlled territories of Ukraine.
Finally, Administrator Power met with prominent Ukrainian civil society representatives and long-standing USAID partners. They spoke about ongoing reform efforts across sectors and the work necessary to advance and enact this important work. They also discussed the United States' commitment to helping build civil society capacity and partnering on ongoing reform work.
