The European Investment Bank (EIB) has announced €16.5 million in EU-backed funding to renew urban public transport in Kyiv, Mykolaiv, Ivano-Frankivsk and Odesa. The 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.

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 public transport demand, improve mobility within the cities’ borders, and build resilience while promoting sustainable and accessible transportation solutions.

Oleksii Kuleba, Deputy Prime Minister for Restoration of Ukraine - Minister for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine, said: “Russian aggression has caused serious damage to our transport systems, with hundreds of buses, trams and trolleybuses destroyed. 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.”

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. Building on the previously disbursed €17.25 million for transport upgrades, this tranche underscores the European Union’s steadfast commitment to supporting Ukraine’s infrastructure recovery and resilience, including updates to transport systems that enable cities to address war-related losses and adapt to increasing urban demands.

EIB Vice-President Teresa Czerwińska, responsible for the Bank’s operations in Ukraine, said: “The war has brought immense challenges to Ukraine’s cities, forcing them to adapt quickly to the needs of a growing number of displaced peopleand disrupted infrastructure. 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.”

European Commissioner for Economy and Productivity, Implementation and Simplification Valdis Dombrovskis said: “This €16.5 million in EU-guaranteed EIB funding will help rebuild and upgrade public transit systems in cities across Ukraine. With the support of its EU partners, Ukraine continues to make progress in improving the daily lives of its citizens, despite the challenges posed by Russia’s full-scale invasion. This is an important part of EU’s support for countries reconstruction where transport systems are playing a crucial role during the war and, in the medium-term, in rebuilding the country. The EU continues to support Ukraine and its people politically and economically.”

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