Damage of US$63 billion to Ukraine’s infrastructure

A view of the destroyed bridge across the Irpen river on the Warsaw highway, Kyiv Region, north-central Ukraine, on April 08, 2022. Photo by Hennadii Minchenko/Ukrinform/ABACAPRESS.COM

The cost of direct damage to Ukraine’s infrastructure since Russia invaded the country has reached US$63 billion, according to an analysis from the Kyiv School of Economics (KSE).

According to data from KSE, between the start of the invasion on February 24 through to March 24, at least 4,431 residential buildings, 92 factories and warehouses, 378 schools, 138 healthcare institutions, 12 airports and seven thermal power and hydroelectric power plants have been damaged, destroyed or seized.

In terms of infrastructure, the most expensive damage has occurred to roads – the cost in damaged roads is estimated at over US$27 billion. The damage to housing is estimated at US$13.5 billion with US$6.8 billion of damage to civilian airports.

Ukraine produces building materials like steel, timber, pallets and clay for ceramic tiles – the conflict will make materials like these more expensive and harder to obtain for the global construction industry.

According to the World Bank, Ukraine’s economy is expected to shrink by an estimated 45% this year, although the magnitude of the contraction will depend on the duration and intensity of the war. Hit by unprecedented sanctions, Russia’s economy has already plunged into a deep recession with output projected to contract by 11.2% in 2022.

“The magnitude of the humanitarian crisis unleashed by the war is staggering. The Russian invasion is delivering a massive blow to Ukraine’s economy and it has inflicted enormous damage to infrastructure,” said Anna Bjerde, World Bank Vice President for the Europe and Central Asia region.

“Ukraine needs massive financial support immediately as it struggles to keep its economy going and the government running to support Ukrainian citizens who are suffering and coping with an extreme situation.”