VIDEO
EXCLUSIVE
[Klitina] Good afternoon. I’m Aleksandra Klitina, a journalist with the Kyiv Post. We’re interviewing Victor Dovhan, former Deputy Minister of European Integration in the Ministry of infrastructure, now an acting advisor to the Minister.
[Dovhan] I am an acting advisor to the EU Delegation at the moment. Let me introduce Aleksandra. She is also a former Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Infrastructure.
[Klitina] Mr. Dovhan, thank you for agreeing to talk to the Kyiv Post. So here are a few questions that are of interest to our readers. I am sure you are aware of the situation.
How has the Ministry of Infrastructure’s work been affected by the war? To what extent was the Ministry prepared for the enormous challenges posed by the war, and how has it been coping?
[Dovhan] Basically, everyone in our country was affected, and the Ministry of Infrastructure is civilian in a state of war. It’s an arm of the Ministry of Defense.
I want to say that the Ministry of Infrastructure is now basically two agencies – Ukrainian Railways and the Road Agency. Ukrainian Railways are evacuating people. It’s functioning pretty well. It brings millions of people from Kyiv and eastern regions to the west of Ukraine, and people get the chance to immigrate to the safe EU.
The second function of the railways, that I help with, is to keep the economic security of Ukraine, exporting agricultural products and importing diesel, which is essential for Ukrainian armed forces and farmers and farming companies. Without this activity, our economy will be dead in six months, and Ukraine will not have the economic capacity to fight. We can see that the Russians understand this and are trying to block it.
The dual agency that has done pretty well is the Ukrainian Road Agency. I observed it myself in Kyiv Region, liberated by the Ukrainian army. The Road Agency quickly removed, with the help of private companies doing it for free (social impact), tanks, destroyed Russian equipment, and built temporary bridges that allowed people from Irpin and Bucha to come back. They are doing well.
The main task for the Ministry today is to do an audit of destroyed objects and to verify this audit with international partners. We expect that money for reconstruction will come from our friends in the EU, the US, Canada, and Great Britain, though the latter is not part of the EU, but one of the best friends to Ukraine today.
[Klitina] Is the Ministry getting enough international support? Can you tell us, even diplomatically, what countries are helping the most and what countries are perhaps creating difficulties?
[Dovhan] To my knowledge, when we talk about international cooperation the Ministry addresses international transport organizations to block or exclude Russia from these organizations. To some extent, it is successful in some of them. Some are not, but the intention is right.
We got full support from our nearest neighbors. I will not mention Hungary because we all know the position of the political authorities in Hungary. I know that, for instance, our tracks can cross a border without any permits right now, which is essential for humanitarian aid. It was always a crucial issue with our neighbors.
I think it’s very optimistic that the Ministry drafted an agreement on the liberalization of internal road transport connections between Ukraine and EU countries. It could be the main achievement of the Ministry if, as was promised by Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov, they sign this agreement in May. It would mean a lot for Ukrainian exporters and expeditors, and transport companies.
Regarding the ports, we’ve got a list of sanctions blocking the entry of Russian vessels. But I don’t think that this fifth package of sanctions is enough. There are many ways to avoid the sanctions and, if you know, the Yermak-McFaul International Expert Group was established recently, which presented its proposals to [US Secretary of State] Antony Blinken. As an outcome of this expert group, it’s necessary to increase these sanctions, including in the transport sector.
[Klitina] Russian forces are targeting the railway system of Ukraine. What is the level of damage done? Are the railways safe enough to travel for passengers right now? What about the airports?
[Dovhan] The exact date of railway destruction is confidential, but railways are the safest way to travel. Many Ambassadors and officials from the EU and US travel to Kyiv by rail. It means the railways are safe.
Russians hit the railways because now the ports are blocked, and this is the primary way to bring weapons, heavy artillery machines, and armor into Ukraine, because we can’t deliver them in trucks. It will come under threat, but it is protected thanks to the Ukrainian armed forces. Of course, by hitting the railways, Russians are trying to reach the aim of blocking our export. Again, export is conducted through the rail system.
Two hours ago, a vital railway bridge was hit. It’s already public information. This bridge in Belgorod-Dnistrovsky was destroyed, and we don’t know the exact details yet. Russians attacked our connections with Romania and Moldova, which are used to export our flower oil and grain for peaceful purposes. Russia is hitting the railways to block Ukrainian export as well.
Regarding the airports, we observed that Ukrainian airports were the primary targets for Russia from the very beginning of the attacks. They are operating, the level of damage is confidential. Ukrainian armed forces preserve those airports which could be operational.
I was in the self-defense forces near Kyiv in Vasylkiv. I saw how the Russians attacked this military airport in Vasylkiv, which is relatively small but important for Kyiv’s defense. Right now, Vasylkiv airport is not operating.
It was crucial because the Russians tried to establish bases in Hostomel, and they succeeded, unfortunately for us. It resulted in massacres in the village of Bucha and others near Hostomel.
Fortunately, Vasylkiv Airport wasn’t captured by the Russians, and in my opinion, it allowed us to keep our connections from Kyiv to Odesa by highway and to Vinnytsia, which are very important. These are necessary connections for people and supplying food products to Kyiv.
[Klitina] How long would it take for Ukraine to recover and start its flight connections again?
[Dovhan] We have very optimistic local operators, that have started selling tickets for June, but my opinion [the situation] is quite pessimistic. Nothing will happen till September. We need to stop the active phase of the war.
Airports in relatively good conditions, such as Lviv and Boryspil Airports, which are very well protected by Ukrainian forces, can start operating fast, Odesa as well. These are primary airports that could be operational, but not during this summer.
[Klitina] Does the Ministry have a plan to reconstruct the infrastructure sector of Ukraine? Are the EU, US, and other countries ready to support Ukraine and provide international aid?
[Dovhan] It’s an essential question. I see the President initiated the International Council for renewal of Ukraine last Friday [April 22]. The working groups will be established on transport infrastructure to audit the losses.
It’s crucial because we don’t have money in the budget to restore Ukrainian railways, roads, and airports. This money will come, and they promised different amounts, from the friends of Ukraine, the US, and the EU. We can talk about numbers, they are pretty different, but the most often mentioned figure is about 100 billion euros for the recovery of the transport infrastructure.
In my opinion, it is very important that an audit is carried out by the Ministry of Infrastructure, be verified by international experts, and that the procedures shall be transparent. Of course, the procedures for obtaining the funds should be simplified, and the tender to restore a bridge, for instance, cannot take six months. But we need to establish very transparent procedures.
This money will not be loans, it will be grants and donations from the West, and we need to work for it. Europeans, Americans and Canadians are saying that all the money, right to the last hryvnia, will definitely go on reconstruction, not for different purposes. It is vital to have transparent IFIs (International Financial Organizations) procedures and good audits.
[Klitina] Good. Thank you for the brief interview and your comments. Slava Ukrayini!
[Dovhan] Heroyam slava! Thank you.
