US finding grid equipment for Ukraine at home and abroad

Washington sent Ukraine US-sourced energy equipment to aid its grid recovery from Russian attacks. However, the US government said that it was also scouring worldwide for such supplies.

Last week the Biden administration shipped the first $53 million in power aid that it announced last month. Because utilities and manufacturers offered many items at no cost or paid transportation costs, the open market value will likely be higher.

An Energy Department official stated that the suppliers were "really quite forthcoming", but pointed out that not all equipment from the United States is compatible with Ukraine's grid.

"Some of what we have here isn't like plug-and-play with Ukraine," the official said under anonymity.

Since October, Russia has been launching a series of attacks against Ukraine's heating and electricity infrastructure. Kyiv and its allies claim that this is an intentional campaign to harm civilians.

Washington and its allies in the West have provided Ukraine funding and equipment to increase Kyiv's energy resilience. Millions of people have been left without heat and in darkness by Russia's attack.

Washington is constantly receiving a master list from Ukraine regarding its power grid requirements. This includes keeping water and sanitation systems running during blackouts that are necessary to stabilize the country’s crumbling infrastructure.

The official said: "Unfortunately, the Russian attacks will continue until then, we're going be looking at a patchwork structure that will constantly have to be stood back up again."

At a briefing, Ned Price, a spokesperson for the State Department, stated that co-ordination of equipment procurement and movement includes the State, Energy, and Defense departments, US Agency for International Development, the White House, and the Ukrainian government.

Price stated that Russia's military is currently struggling on the battlefield and is now attacking infrastructure in order to bring war into Ukrainian homes. He said that once Ukraine's urgent needs have been met, the administration will concentrate on its long-term grid reconstruction efforts.

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