Putin’s Invasion Has Caused $170 Billion in Infrastructure Destruction in Ukraine

KYIV – The ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine has caused unprecedented destruction to the country’s infrastructure, with total direct damage now estimated at $170 billion. This figure represents an increase of $12.6 billion from previous calculations, reflecting the continued devastation inflicted by Moscow’s aggression.

Among the most affected sectors are housing, transportation, and energy. The Kyiv School of Economics, which compiled the latest report, states that the housing sector alone has suffered damages amounting to $60 billion. Since the onset of the full scale war, approximately 236,000 residential buildings have been either damaged or completely destroyed. Of these, 209,000 were private homes, 27,000 were apartment buildings, and 600 were dormitories. The regions hardest hit include Donetsk, Kharkiv, Luhansk, Kyiv, Chernihiv, and Kherson, where entire neighbourhoods have been turned to rubble by relentless Russian attacks.

Ukraine’s transportation infrastructure has been severely impacted, suffering losses of $38.5 billion. Russian forces have destroyed more than 26,000 kilometres of highways, with damage estimated at $28.3 billion. The rail network has incurred losses of $4.3 billion, while port infrastructure has sustained damages amounting to $850 million. The aviation industry has also taken a significant hit, with $2 billion in losses. In addition, the destruction of private vehicles has been extensive, with 260,000 cars either damaged or completely obliterated, leading to an estimated loss of $2.2 billion.

The energy sector has also been targeted in systematic attacks, with direct damages now estimated at $14.6 billion. The destruction of key power facilities such as the Kakhovka and Dnipro hydroelectric power plants, along with the Trypillia and Zmiiv thermal power plants, has severely impacted Ukraine’s electricity generation. High-voltage substations and vital oil and gas infrastructure have also been damaged or destroyed, further straining the country’s energy supply.

Industry, construction, and services have suffered $14.4 billion in damages, with businesses losing critical production facilities, equipment, and logistics capabilities. Nearly 500 large and medium-sized enterprises have been either destroyed or heavily damaged since the war began, further weakening Ukraine’s economy.

The agricultural sector has lost $10.3 billion due to the destruction of farm equipment, grain storage facilities, and cultivated land. Over 130,000 pieces of agricultural machinery have been lost, while 4 million tonnes of grain storage capacity have been wiped out. Additionally, 16,000 hectares of perennial crops have been damaged, threatening long-term agricultural production.

The forest sector has also suffered, with 298,000 hectares of forests damaged due to fighting and fires. Losses in this area have reached $4.5 billion.

Education infrastructure has taken a devastating hit, with losses reaching $7.3 billion. More than 4,000 educational institutions have been damaged or destroyed, including 229 schools, 110 kindergartens, and 97 universities. The attack on Ukraine’s education system not only disrupts millions of students’ learning but also threatens the country’s future development.

Ukraine’s healthcare system has not been spared, with $4.3 billion in damages to hospitals, clinics, and medical facilities. Russian forces have targeted critical healthcare infrastructure, damaging or destroying 1,554 medical facilities, including 515 hospitals and 465 outpatient clinics, depriving Ukrainians of vital medical services.

Cultural heritage sites, sports facilities, and tourist attractions have also suffered severe damage, with losses estimated at $4 billion. At least 3,921 cultural facilities, 399 religious buildings, and 343 sports complexes have been damaged. In a recent attack on Odesa, UNESCO strongly condemned Russia’s destruction of historical sites, warning that these deliberate assaults on cultural heritage constitute war crimes.

The housing and utilities sector has incurred damages of $3.5 billion, with significant destruction recorded in essential services such as heating and water supply. A total of 925 boiler houses, 214 central heating stations, and over 354 kilometres of heating networks have been damaged, further worsening living conditions in war-torn areas.

Ukraine’s digital infrastructure and telecommunications sector has sustained losses of $1.2 billion. Russian forces have targeted Internet and mobile networks, causing widespread destruction in liberated territories where some areas have seen network damage reach 100%. Thousands of mobile base stations have been destroyed, leaving residents without communication services in critical situations.

Since the onset of the full scale war, approximately 236,000 residential buildings have been either damaged or completely destroyed.