University in central Ukrainian city of Poltava reopens building after EU-backed renovation

A university in the central Ukrainian city of Poltava has reopened an academic building used by almost 3,000 students and staff following an energy-efficiency renovation financed by international donors, including the European Union. 

The Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic’s upgraded building ‘F’ now also includes a shelter for more than 400 people to help ensure in-person education can continue during air-raid alerts.

The renovation was financed by a €1.75 million grant from a multi-donor fund known as the ‘Eastern Europe Energy Efficiency and Environment Partnership’, or E5P, to which the EU is the largest contributor. E5P has a number of partner organisations, including the European Investment Bank (EIB), whose own ‘Ukraine Higher Education’ project adds an EIB loan to grant support for improvements to university buildings across Ukraine.

“Even in wartime, Ukraine’s universities remain places where people learn, teach and build their future,” said EIB Vice-President Karl Nehammer. “By modernising them, we are helping to keep education going today while investing in the skills and knowledge Ukraine will need for its recovery and beyond.”

The renovation of the building took around 20 months to complete, with works running from January 2025 to September 2026. In addition to automated heat controls and upgraded metering that will reduce energy use and improve comfort, the building now has new ramps and tactile navigation for people with disabilities.

In total, 2,888 students and doctoral candidates and 86 academic staff from seven university departments use building ‘F’. It has classroom capacity for 1,422 students as well as lecture halls, specialised laboratories and computer labs.

“Ukraine cannot put education on hold until the war is over,” said Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine Andrii Butenko. “We need our universities to keep developing so that students can gain the knowledge and skills our country needs. With the support of the EU and the EIB, we are able to continue this modernisation even in the most difficult circumstances.” 

Building ‘F’ is part of wider upgrades of Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic including work taking place at dormitory No. 2 and scheduled renovations of academic buildings ‘7’ and ‘P’. The EIB’s Ukraine Higher Education project covers ten of the university’s buildings with €10.8 million in financing. 

The Ukraine Higher Education project aims to enhance the energy efficiency of 16 Ukrainian universities by refurbishing teaching, research and supporting facilities. This effort supports the recovery of higher education infrastructure as part of the country’s broader reconstruction initiatives.