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USD 500 bn worth of damage in Ukraine due to war: officials

19.04.2022 09:45
Russia's war has so far destroyed about USD 500 billion worth of Ukraine's infrastructure, including roads, homes and other buildings across the country, according to Ukrainian officials.
Massive destruction after Russian shelling in the northeastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv.
Massive destruction after Russian shelling in the northeastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv.Photo: PAP/Elena Dolzhenko

A Ukrainian government minister was quoted as saying this week that Russia's invasion has damaged or destroyed up to 30 percent of his country's transport infrastructure at a cost of USD 100 billion. 

"Practically all components of our transport infrastructure have suffered in one form or another," Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov said on Monday, as quoted by the Reuters news agency.

He added that more than 300 bridges on national roads had been destroyed or damaged, more than 8,000 km of roads had to be repaired or rebuilt, and dozens of railway bridges had been blown up, Reuters reported.

Ukrainian officials have said the total bill for damage to everything from transport infrastructure to homes and other buildings runs to about USD 500 billion so far, according to Reuters.

Photo: Photo: Photo: PAP/Elena Dolzhenko

In an exclusive interview with Radio Poland, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said last week that Ukraine’s war-ravaged areas have been almost “totally destroyed” by Russian forces, losing most of their infrastructure.

Logistics and shopping centres in and around the Ukrainian capital have been reduced to rubble, Klitschko said.

He also spoke about mounting civilian deaths, mass destruction, a catastrophic humanitarian toll, and reports of genocide during the Russian invasion of his country, which began more than seven weeks ago.

In the interview, Klitschko thanked all democratic nations involved in aiding his country and calls for more support for an embattled Ukraine at war with Russia.

(gs)

Source: PAPReuters