April 26 marks the 40th anniversary of the Chornobyl nuclear disaster, which was commemorated at an international conference at the plant. During a visit to the Chornobyl plant, Minister of Energy and the Environment Andres Sutt confirmed that Estonia is contributing to the restoration of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. Estonia is also financially supporting the repair work on the new metal sarcophagus damaged by a Russian drone.
“Forty years ago, we all paid an exceptionally high price for the incompetence and secrecy of the Soviet regime, but today pure evil is allowing the disaster to continue,” said Minister of Energy and the Environment Andres Sutt at the site of the former nuclear power plant.
On February 14 last year, the modern protective shell surrounding the plant was hit by a Russian drone, which significantly damaged it. The complete restoration of the shell is a very expensive and time-consuming project.
In a joint statement, the participants in the international conference confirmed their support for Ukraine, condemned the attacks on nuclear infrastructure and stressed the importance of holding Russia accountable. Financial contributions to the International Fund for the Restoration of Ukraine will also continue. According to the minister, Estonia is supporting the restoration of the metal sarcophagus with 75,000 euros. “The ongoing attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure show how vulnerable our common energy space can be. Therefore, it is important that we stand by Ukraine in both its restoration and protection. Restoring Ukraine’s energy infrastructure is not just about rebuilding a country, but an investment in European security and energy independence,” said Sutt.
An Estonian-Ukrainian energy cooperation forum was also held in Kyiv on 27 of April and opened by Minister Sutt. The forum brought together state institutions, companies and experts to discuss specific cooperation opportunities in the restoration and modernization of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. According to the minister, cooperation between Estonia and Ukraine as energy partners has deepened significantly in recent years, and we can already share real solutions with the Ukrainians.