It was a long and at times slow journey from East Asia but two enormous autotransformers have arrived in central Ukraine just in time for winter.
With the support and funding of the Government of Japan, UNDP is the first international agency to deliver autotransformers, which will patch gaps in Ukraine’s broken energy network and ensure reliable power for over half a million people.
In a massive logistical undertaking, the 142-tonne behemoths were transported by ship to the Polish port of Gdansk where they were loaded onto flatbed cargo trucks.
Because the autotransformers are nearly four metres high, electrical wires along the route had to be raised to allow them to pass, and they travelled across Poland to Ukraine at the stately average speed of 30 kilometres per hour.
The 35,000 kilometre journey took four and a half months.
Autotransformers are critical not just to Ukraine’s war effort, but also to ensuring the country, known for its long and brutal winters, can pursue its development goals, even under the harshest of circumstances.
“By fortifying Ukraine’s energy grid, we’re not only providing electricity, but also building up the nation’s resilience. In the face of enormous challenges, particularly the relentless attempts to disrupt Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, this partnership symbolizes our unwavering commitment to stand by the Ukrainian people.” - UNDP Ukraine Resident Representative Jaco Cilliers
UNDP also worked with Ukraine’s Ministry of Energy and the national power company Ukrenergo to ensure families can heat their homes safely, and schools, hospitals, businesses and essential utilities can run.
"UNDP was the first among Ukraine’s international donors to efficiently navigate the complex path of procuring and delivering sophisticated high-tech equipment for our country. In the energy sector, this usually takes many months.” - Volodymyr Kudrytskyi, CEO Ukrenergo National Energy Company
Russian attacks last winter wiped out many of Ukraine’s substations, and power generation was slashed by half.
Electrical engineers braved incredible dangers to do running repairs, but widespread power outages meant around 12 million people suffered in frigid temperatures.
The average family endured up to five weeks with no power.
High power transformers are an essential component of an electricity grid because they convert high voltages carried on transmission lines to the lower voltages that consumers can use. Without them, the grid cannot operate efficiently.
“Replacing such autotransformers takes time and money, and their critical importance extends to the entire country. Therefore, this assistance from Japan and UNDP is invaluable for us. We hope this partnership will enable us to navigate through the season with dignity.” - Herman Galushchenko, Ukraine Minister of Energy
As Ukrainians confront the challenges of another cold winter under war, the Government of Japan is determined to support Ukraine for as long as necessary and has promised seven more autotransformers will be delivered.
“The purpose is to contribute to the Ukrainian people's stable and undisrupted power supply through a winter season during which they may face Russian aggression.” - Kuninori Matsuda, Japanese Ambassador to Ukraine
© 2026 United Nations Development Programme
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