European Investment Bank Supports Reopening of Modernised Bilochka Kindergarten in Verkhnia Bilka Under Ukraine Early Recovery Programme

European Investment Bank Supports Reopening of Modernised Bilochka Kindergarten in Verkhnia Bilka Under Ukraine Early Recovery Programme

(IN BRIEF) The Bilochka kindergarten in Verkhnia Bilka village in Lviv oblast has reopened after a €490 000 renovation funded through the European Investment Bank’s Ukraine Early Recovery Programme, restoring early childhood education services for local families during wartime. The upgraded facility now accommodates 40 children and provides improved working conditions for staff while remaining operational during energy disruptions thanks to a newly installed heat generator. Renovation works included insulation, utility upgrades, accessibility improvements, new equipment, playgrounds and outdoor lighting. The project forms part of a broader €200 million recovery initiative implemented with Ukrainian ministries, local authorities and UNDP support. Across Lviv oblast, the EIB is financing 15 infrastructure recovery projects, five of which have already been completed, helping communities maintain essential services and strengthen resilience despite ongoing conflict.

(PRESS RELEASE) LUXEMBOURG, 24-Feb-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — The European Investment Bank (EIB) has supported the reopening of the Bilochka kindergarten in the village of Verkhnia Bilka in Lviv oblast following a comprehensive renovation valued at €490 000 under the Ukraine Early Recovery Programme. The upgraded facility restores access to early childhood education for local families and provides a secure and modern environment for children aged three to five despite the ongoing challenges created by the war.

The kindergarten now accommodates 40 children and provides improved conditions for a staff of 13. A newly installed heat generator ensures that the building can remain warm and operational even during interruptions to electricity or heating services, allowing the institution to continue functioning under difficult conditions.

Renovation works included full thermal insulation, replacement of key utilities, installation of modern equipment and improved lighting across the site. Two new playgrounds were constructed to enhance outdoor activities. The facility was also redesigned to be fully accessible, featuring step-free entryways, widened doorways for wheelchair users, tactile guidance elements, Braille signage and adapted sanitary facilities.

EIB Vice-President Teresa Czerwińska emphasized the Bank’s continued commitment to Ukraine, noting that restoring essential infrastructure helps communities preserve access to education and other critical services during wartime conditions.

Stefan Schleuning, Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Ukraine, highlighted the European Union’s role in supporting local communities through investments that enable essential services to continue operating. Energy efficiency improvements such as those implemented at the kindergarten help institutions reopen safely while strengthening local resilience.

The renovation was carried out between September 2024 and November 2025 as part of the €200 million Ukraine Early Recovery Programme financed by the EIB. The programme is implemented in cooperation with the Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine, the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine and local authorities, with technical support provided by the United Nations Development Programme.

Deputy Minister for Development of Communities and Territories Riabykin Oleksii stressed the importance of ensuring that public funds deliver meaningful benefits, noting that the renovated kindergarten provides safe and modern learning conditions for children while supporting families and the wider community.

Within Lviv oblast, the EIB is supporting 15 recovery projects aimed at restoring educational, healthcare, water and heating infrastructure. Five projects have already been completed, including the modernisation of the Bilochka kindergarten in Verkhnia Bilka village, St. Luke’s Hospital in Lviv, Preschool No. 7 Dzvinochok in Truskavets, the school in Sukhovolia village and the Vinochok preschool in Mostyska. These efforts are carried out in cooperation with regional and local authorities.

Maksym Kozytsky, Head of the Lviv Oblast Military Administration, noted that cooperation with European partners continues to strengthen communities across the region, including those hosting internally displaced persons. The restoration of facilities such as the kindergarten helps maintain essential services for families throughout the war.

Vasyl Koval, Head of the Pidberiztsi territorial community, underlined the importance of the project for local residents, explaining that the facility is the village’s only kindergarten and plays a key role in supporting working families.

UNDP Resident Representative in Ukraine Auke Lootsma highlighted the ongoing impact of recovery initiatives, noting that collaboration between international partners and local authorities is helping improve everyday living conditions and ensuring communities have reliable and safe social infrastructure.

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 €4 billion in financing. Through its EU for Ukraine (EU4U) Initiative, coupled with its key role in implementing a dedicated window under 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 kindergarten in Verkhnia Bilka village in Lviv oblast was implemented as part of the Ukraine Early Recovery Programme, one of three recovery initiatives supported by the EIB. As of February 2026, 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-government entities are responsible for managing recovery sub-projects. The 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.

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SOURCE: European Investment Bank