Albares reaffirms support for Ukraine with the shipment of 70 generators through the AECID

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, at the handover ceremony for the generators

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, has reaffirmed Spain's commitment to Ukraine by sending 70 power generators through the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID). These generators will help alleviate the serious shortage of energy infrastructure, largely destroyed by ongoing Russian attacks.

"Now that the fourth winter of this war is upon us, we are going to send 70 electric generators donated by Spain through the AECID," said Minister Albares at the presentation ceremony for the generators, alongside the Ukrainian ambassador to Spain, Yuliia Sokolovska. This shipment will provide the population with electricity, lighting and heating, essential elements to cope with the low winter temperatures. "In this situation, Spain will stand resolutely with Ukraine in the face of the unjustifiable aggression it has been suffering for three and a half years now, offering unwavering support for as long as necessary," the minister stated.

Restoration of energy services

The shipment responds to the urgent request made by the Ukrainian authorities to Spain on October 8, to restore energy services and ensure the survival of the population as the cold weather arrives. In Albares' words, "With this donation, we seek to help the Ukrainian people face what is shaping up to be a very difficult winter, given the recent Russian attacks against key energy facilities and other critical infrastructure, attacks that have been particularly intense in the last two months."

Each of the 70 generators to be delivered by the AECID has a power of about 7kVA and can work in single-phase and three-phase, providing great versatility. These generators will be distributed mainly in the Sumy region in northeastern Ukraine, with a population of more than 250,000, which has been particularly hard hit by the Russian offensive in recent weeks. During the coldest months, temperatures in the area range from a high of -5 °C to a low of -12 °C.

Commitment to Ukraine

Since the beginning of the conflict four years ago, Spain, through the AECID and in collaboration with decentralised cooperation agencies (autonomous communities and local entities), has allocated more than 110 million euros in humanitarian aid to support Ukraine, "an unprecedented effort. Never before had Spanish Cooperation disbursed a humanitarian aid package of this magnitude", said the minister. This aid has been channelled into various areas, such as assistance to internally displaced persons, humanitarian demining, the delivery of power generators, the equipping and rehabilitation of education centres, and support for protection services for victims of gender-based violence.

In his speech, Albares stressed Spain's commitment to Ukraine: "Spain will continue to support the people and government of Ukraine in the defence of their freedom and sovereignty through our humanitarian, political, financial and military support". The minister recalled that, in addition to the humanitarian and military aid sent since the beginning of the Russian aggression against Ukraine, Spain strictly applies the 19 sanctions packages approved by the European Union to date, has created the Office for the Reconstruction of Ukraine that will advise Spanish companies that wish to participate in the reconstruction of the country, and hosts more than 250,000 Ukrainians, as the country with the fourth largest Ukrainian diaspora within the European Union.

"We said that we will stand by Ukraine to confront this unjust war and we are fulfilling our commitment," the minister stressed. "We will continue to do so for as long as necessary until Ukraine is finally what it was always meant to be: a free, sovereign, and peaceful country," he concluded.

Non official translation