Ukraine’s transport system suffers damage worth $36B

The transport system and infrastructure of Ukraine in the first month of Russia’s military actions suffered damage for $36 billion due to the destruction of roads, bridges, railway tracks, as well as power lines and aqueducts, Minister of Infrastructure Oleksandr Kubrakov said in an interview with La Repubblica newspaper, Report informs citing TASS.

"In the first month of the war, we lost $36 billion, and this only applies to the transport infrastructure, to which power lines, aqueducts and other things are added, but there is no exact estimate," he said. The main problem is the destroyed bridges, he added. "We blew up some to stop the Russian offensive, but they bombed most of them," he said, noting that about 300 road and railway bridges were damaged. At the moment, up to 30-40% of roads and railroad tracks have been damaged. Some 12 airports have been disabled," the minister specified.

The minister said that the EU "guarantees simplified access to loans." "We are also considering the possibility of receiving the funds of the Russian Federation frozen due to sanctions. Another project concerns the establishment of a special fund for the restoration of Ukraine," the minister said.

At the same time, he assured that Ukraine is able to ensure the production of 90% of grain, but the difficulties relate to its export due to "blocking of Ukrainian ports." He explained that 80% of Ukrainian exports were carried out by sea.