Leading Ukrainian operator Kyivstar has contributed to the restoration of Ukraine’s digital infrastructure with a UAH 300 million commitment at the Ukrainian Recovery Conference held on July 4 in Lugano, Switzerland. A Memorandum of Cooperation was signed by Ukraine’s Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov and Kyivstar President Oleksandr Komarov.
The Memorandum focuses on the priority areas of social partnership between Kyivstar and the Ministry of Digital Transformation including modernization and development of the state’s digital infrastructure, further development of new technologies, and the implementation of key tasks initiated by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy within the framework of the United-24 fundraising platform. Future projects also provide for countering information threats from the aggressor state and strengthening cyber defense.
In his speech, President of Kyivstar Oleksandr Komarov recalled Kyivstar’s significant contribution to the economic strengthening of Ukraine and its digital infrastructure. Over 25 years of activity, the mobile services provider has invested more than USD 6 billion in the country’s economy and the development of the telecommunication market. “By our example, we would like to inspire other Ukrainian and foreign companies to support the initiative of President Zelenskyy to collect donations in favor of the earliest restoration of the peaceful future of our state,” Komarov commented.
Within the framework of cooperation with the Ministry of Digital Transformation, during the coming twelve months the telecommunication services provider will make charitable transfers to the National Bank of Ukraine totalling UAH 300 million. The Ministry, for its part, will ensure the most effective use of this aid for the benefit of Ukraine and the country’s reconstruction.
Kyivstar implements a wide range of humanitarian initiatives for Ukraine and actively supports the country’s economy during the war. Since the outbreak of hostilities in February 2022, the mobile services provider has donated more than UAH 33 million to charitable funds for humanitarian projects for hospitals and doctors, military personnel, and war victims.
In order to support Ukrainians during the war, Kyivstar provided subscribers with free services with a value of over UAH 420 million. To support the Ukrainian state budget, the mobile services provider paid more than UAH 4.2 billion in taxes and fees, of which more than UAH 1.6 billion was paid ahead of schedule.
The signing of the Memorandum between Kyivstar and the Ministry of Digital Transformation marks the next stage of cooperation to strengthen the economic sovereignty of Ukraine through the development of new technologies along with the introduction of digital services and digital culture into the country’s economy and life.
“Kyivstar’s activities are useful for individuals and for the country. These steps make a real contribution to improving the lives of Ukrainians,” Komarov commented following the signing of the Memorandum. “By rebuilding infrastructure while providing the country with modern mobile communications and high-speed internet, we are supporting victory and peace in Ukraine.”
Modernization and development of digital infrastructure, including the introduction of new technologies, is a key priority for Ukraine’s largest telecommunication services provider: over the past five years, Kyivstar has invested more than UAH 23 billion in the development of new 4G/LTE communication technologies in Ukraine.