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Statement

by the Delegation of Ukraine

at the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, 

SDG 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy

(7 July 2026)

 

Mr. Chair,

Access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy is one of the fundamental prerequisites for sustainable development. SDG 7 is closely interconnected with virtually every other Sustainable Development Goal, as energy powers hospitals and schools, ensures access to clean water, supports economic growth, strengthens resilient infrastructure, and improves the quality of life for millions of people.

Ukraine remains fully committed to achieving SDG 7 and implementing its targets. Before Russia's full-scale invasion, our country made steady progress in diversifying energy sources, increasing the share of renewable energy, improving energy efficiency, and advancing reforms aimed at integrating Ukraine into the European energy market. Today, we continue these efforts while simultaneously rebuilding and modernizing our energy system to make it more resilient, decentralized, and sustainable.

For Ukraine, however, achieving SDG 7 has become one of the greatest challenges of our time. Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale aggression, the destruction of Ukraine's energy infrastructure has become a deliberate military strategy. Power plants, substations, transmission lines, and district heating facilities have been systematically targeted by missiles and drones. The past winter once again demonstrated Russia's cynical attempt to deprive millions of Ukrainians of electricity, heating, and water during the coldest months of the year. These attacks are aimed not only at critical infrastructure but at making everyday life unbearable for civilians.

Despite this relentless campaign, Ukraine has demonstrated remarkable resilience. Our engineers, energy workers, emergency services, and local communities have worked around the clock to restore damaged facilities and keep essential services functioning. At the same time, we are using recovery as an opportunity to build a cleaner, more flexible and decentralized energy system that will be better prepared for future challenges.

In this regard, we express our sincere gratitude to our international partners for their unwavering solidarity. We particularly appreciate the important contribution of the United Nations Development Programme, which has helped procure hundreds of megawatts of new generating capacity, supported the installation of gas turbines and cogeneration units, and assisted in maintaining access to electricity, heating, water and sanitation for millions of Ukrainians. These efforts are essential as Ukraine prepares for the next heating season and continues strengthening the resilience of its energy sector.

Ukraine remains committed to accelerating the clean energy transition, improving energy efficiency, and expanding international cooperation in line with SDG 7. We stand ready to work with all partners to build an energy future that is secure, sustainable, and resilient. Achieving this goal requires not only investment and innovation, but also the protection of civilian energy infrastructure from deliberate attacks, in full accordance with international law.

Thank you.