The United States–Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund (URIF) will begin financing its first projects by the end of 2026, with at least three projects expected to receive funding.
Deputy Minister of Economy and Environment Yehor Perelyhin announced this during Mining Day, a special industry event organised by the European Business Association.
According to Perelyhin, more than 300 projects across various sectors have already been submitted for consideration by the Fund’s specialised committees, with a significant share — more than 60% — in the energy sector.
“Most of the projects are still fairly raw and lack detailed justification and calculations. At the same time, there are some genuinely interesting ideas and proposals. However, they still need further development. For example, most projects involving subsoil resources require thorough assessment and structuring,” Perelyhin stressed.
According to him, even if the Fund decides to give a particular project the “green light” and refer it to the investment committee, additional time is required to prepare it properly. This includes professional evaluation and structuring, including the structuring of assets if participants from other jurisdictions are involved in implementing the project.
“In other words, to see the first deals and the first projects receive financing, at least 12 months are needed from the start of the Fund’s operational activities [the first contribution was received in September 2025, while the official online portal for accepting applications from investors was launched in January 2026 — ed.]. But we are trying to accelerate this work so that the first projects in energy, mining and possibly several other sectors can be financed by the end of the year,” the deputy minister continued.
In this context, Perelyhin recalled previously announced plans to begin implementing at least three promising investment projects in 2026.
The United States–Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund (URIF) was established under an agreement between Ukraine and the United States to finance economic recovery projects. Its initial capital amounts to $150 million, contributed in equal shares of $75 million by Ukraine and the United States, with the U.S. contribution provided through the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC).
The Fund’s priority sectors include critical minerals, energy, transport and logistics, information and communications technology, and innovation.
