THE CHALLENGE

As the war continued and attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure intensified, the needs on the ground changed dramatically. While WICTU1 focused on providing small generators during temporary power disruptions, many communities were now facing prolonged outages lasting days or even weeks. In some of the hardest-hit areas, access to electricity, heating and water could no longer be taken for granted.

To respond to these new challenges, WICTU4 shifted its focus to medium-sized generators capable of providing reliable backup power for schools, community facilities and other critical services. The project was designed to help communities maintain essential functions during extended infrastructure disruptions.

A significant milestone for WICTU4 was the support received from the Ukrainian Ambassador to Finland, Mykhailo Vidoinyk. Through his assistance, the project gained access to the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism, enabling donated equipment to be verified through EU and Ukrainian authorities. This strengthened transparency, accountability and the effectiveness of the aid deliveries.

The project also benefited from the support of the Finnish Ministry of the Interior, which facilitated protected and cost-free transportation of humanitarian shipments to Ukraine.

To date, WICTU4 deliveries have primarily supported communities in the Chernihiv and Kharkiv regions, both of which have experienced extensive damage and repeated attacks on critical infrastructure. The project remains ongoing as WICTU continues to work with partners to strengthen local resilience and support affected communities.