VEON’s Kyivstar Extends Energy Resilience of Network in Ukraine

VEON Ltd., a global digital operator that provides converged connectivity and online services, announced that its wholly owned subsidiary Kyivstar continues to invest in resilient connectivity for Ukraine, with plans to deploy and additional 848 industrial generators and 61,766 batteries to enable service continuity during the extended blackouts caused by attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.

From the outset of the war, resilience has been a major focus of Kyivstar’s strategy to maintain crucial communication services and safeguard digital operations. Kyivstar has deployed 2,322 generators and 115,000 four-hour duration batteries at base stations to provide backup power during blackouts.

Today’s announcement that Kyivstar plans to deploy an additional 848 stationary industrial generators and 61,766 new batteries is a further investment building on the earlier efforts to support the business continuity of the operator’s network.

"Energy resilience and preparedness against blackouts have been at the centre of our investment priorities since the end of 2022. Consistent and significant investment of over USD 24 million over the last two years has helped us improve energy resilience. However, the changing nature of threats to Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and extended blackouts now necessitate a reinforcement in our strategy. This second wave of focus on energy resilience will enable Kyivstar to support critical connectivity with even further resources dedicated to energy resilience," explains Oleksandr Komarov, CEO of Kyivstar.

The power backup systems will be deployed throughout the country, including at critical facilities that require at least three days of generating capacity in the event of a comprehensive power outage.

VEON and Kyivstar, which was recently named Ukraine’s largest foreign investor in 2022 and 2023 by Forbes Ukraine, announced their commitment to invest USD 1 billion in Ukraine over a five-year period from 2023 to 2027 at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Belin.

Kyivstar was recognised at MWC 2024 with the GSMA’s Global Mobile Award for “Best Mobile Innovation Supporting Emergency or Humanitarian Situations” for its Network Resilience Project that has overcome significant challenges to keep Ukraine connected through voice, data and digital services.