Finnish foundations save Kharkiv University from power outages

A donation of €73,000 from the Walter Ahlström and Runar Bäckström Foundations secures the operation of Kharkiv University in Ukraine during the ongoing war, as Russia’s invasion severely threatens the country’s energy infrastructure.

The idea for the donation originated after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky requested assistance for Ukraine’s education system during and after the war in his speech to the Finnish Parliament in the spring of 2022. “I am part of the UNESCO negotiating committee led by the Chancellor of the University of Helsinki, Kaarle Hämeri. I suggested there that we could start looking for ways to fulfill Zelensky’s request,” explains Markku Wilenius, Chairman of the Runar Bäckström and Walter Ahlström Foundations and Professor of Futures Studies at the University of Turku.

First, the foundations wanted to determine the real needs in Ukraine. After many steps and efforts, especially by Professor Hannele Niemi, Ukraine’s former Minister of Education and the current Vice-Rector of Kharkiv University, Liliia Hrynevych, was invited to an education conference held in Helsinki in June. This provided an opportunity to hear about and discuss the current challenges of Ukraine’s education sector amidst the war.

Hrynevych’s message was clear. The university’s operation is seriously threatened, with Russia having destroyed a significant portion of the country’s energy infrastructure. Power outages are frequent and are expected to worsen in the fall and winter. According to a report by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Russia has destroyed up to 80% of Ukraine’s thermal power plants and 40% of hydroelectric plants. Additionally, the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the largest in Europe, is under Russian occupation. The outlook for the coming winter is bleak.

As a result of the discussions, V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University applied at the end of June to the Walter Ahlström and Runar Bäckström Foundations for support in acquiring generators, heaters, and charging stations. This university is one of the most vulnerable parts of Ukraine’s university system because it is located close to the current front lines. The university serves the entire needs of Eastern Ukraine. Some of the university’s facilities have already been destroyed by Russian bombings.

Now the foundations’ boards have approved the application. “By supporting the university’s critical infrastructure amidst increasing power outages, we ensure that students can continue their studies and teachers their work. This is vital in the middle of the war. We had already previously financed Vice-Rector Hrynevych’s visit to Finland,” says Wilenius.

According to Wilenius, the continuity of education is crucial for maintaining hope during the war and later when Ukraine is rebuilt. “We will continue our efforts to support Ukraine’s education sector on various fronts.”

The goal of the Walter Ahlström and Runar Bäckström Foundations is to promote the international competitiveness of Finnish companies by supporting technological research and innovations. Through this donation, the foundations aim to assist in the reconstruction of Ukraine’s research and innovation activities. The donation was made to the V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University Foundation, which secures the university’s operations. Kharkiv University has 15,000 students.

For more information: Markku Wilenius, Chairman of the Walter Ahlström and Runar Bäckström Foundations, p. +358 50 592 9121