EIB finances €1 million renovation of Hatne school near Kyiv completed in under six months

EIB finances €1 million renovation of Hatne school near Kyiv completed in under six months

(IN BRIEF) The European Investment Bank has financed the renovation of Hatne Secondary School near Kyiv with €1 million under the Ukraine Recovery Programme, enabling over 1,300 students, including 300 displaced children, to begin the new academic year in modernised facilities. The project, completed in less than six months, reinforced the structure, improved insulation and accessibility, and upgraded classrooms, corridors, and communal areas. Leaders from the EIB, Ukrainian government, EU, and UNDP emphasised that the project highlights the speed, determination, and collaboration driving Ukraine’s recovery, with more than 67 facilities being restored across the Kyiv region under broader EU–EIB recovery programmes.

(PRESS RELEASE) LUXEMBOURG, 2-Sep-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — The European Investment Bank (EIB) has supported the reopening of Hatne Secondary School, located just outside Kyiv, following an extensive renovation that will benefit more than 1,300 children and almost 100 teachers. The project, financed with €1 million in EIB funding under the Ukraine Recovery Programme, was completed in under six months, ensuring that students were able to start the new academic year in a safer, modern, and fully upgraded environment.

The renovation reinforced the school’s structure, enhanced insulation, repaired the roof, and improved classrooms, corridors, and the canteen. Accessibility features were also introduced, making the facility more inclusive. Among the student body, nearly 300 children from displaced families are now able to learn in improved conditions.

Teresa Czerwińska, EIB Vice-President, emphasised: “The Hatne school proves how fast and determined Ukraine’s recovery can be. We are working with our partners to rebuild the social infrastructure that keeps communities strong.”

The project is part of the Ukraine Recovery Programme, a €340 million initiative from the EIB that supports the restoration of essential local infrastructure across Ukraine. Oleksii Kuleba, Deputy Prime Minister for Restoration and Minister for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine, highlighted: “Our strategic goal is the comprehensive recovery of communities affected by Russian aggression. Education is the foundation of Ukraine’s future, even in times of war.”

Local authorities underlined the urgency of completing the project. Oleksandr Palamarchuk, Head of the Hatne community, said: “Our priority was clear – to make sure children could start the school year in a comfortable, modern and safe school.”

The Ukraine Recovery Programme is among three joint EU–EIB recovery initiatives carried out with the Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories, the Ministry of Finance, and local governments, with technical support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Across the Kyiv region, 67 facilities are being rebuilt or modernised under three EIB recovery initiatives, with a combined cost of €152.6 million. These include more than 30 schools, multiple hospitals and healthcare centres, as well as projects to update water supply, sewage, heating, and public buildings.

Asier Santillán Luzuriaga, Acting Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Ukraine, remarked: “Renovating schools and social infrastructure means investing in communities and Ukraine’s future, and the EU is proud to support this progress.”

Echoing this, Auke Lootsma, UNDP Resident Representative in Ukraine, added: “A renovated school isn’t just about bricks and mortar; it’s about rebuilding lives and hope. The Hatne school shows that when international partners and local leaders unite, we can deliver real change—one classroom, one community at a time.”

Background information

The EIB in Ukraine

Present in Ukraine since 2007, the EIB has stepped up its financial support for the country’s resilience and modernisation since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Since then, the EIB has provided €3.6 billion in financing, with almost two-thirds already disbursed. Through its EU for Ukraine (EU4U) Initiative, coupled with its key role in implementing a dedicated window under Pillar 2 of the Ukraine Facility, the EIB is strongly committed to stepping up and accelerating its activities in line with the mandate given by EU leaders and in close cooperation with the European Commission, the European Parliament, Member States and international partners.

EIB recovery programmes in Ukraine

The reconstruction of the gymnasium in Chernivtsi was carried out under the Ukraine Early Recovery Programme, one of three recovery initiatives supported by the European Investment Bank (EIB). As of July 2025, the EIB has provided €740 million through these programmes to support Ukraine’s recovery. The funding helps the government to restore essential services in communities across the country – including schools, kindergartens, hospitals, housing, heating and water systems. These EIB-backed programmes are further supported by €15 million in EU grants to facilitate implementation. The Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine, in cooperation with the Ministry of Finance, coordinates and oversees programme implementation, while local authorities and self-governments are responsible for managing recovery sub-projects. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine provides technical assistance to local communities, supporting project implementation and ensuring independent monitoring for transparency and accountability. More information about the programmes is available here

Media Contact:

Olga Sushytska
o.sushytska@ext.eib.org
+380 443908018

Press Office

press@eib.org
+352 43791

SOURCE: European Investment Bank