Composites United is very concerned about the escalating situation in Ukraine. The war has pushed the pandemic into the background with the number of infected people now rising again. Human suffering, political helplessness and impact on the European economy, especially on energy supply, have now become the dominant issues. Composites United will stand by its members, as it did during the pandemic, and take action within its means, especially by supporting initiatives that help mitigate the effects of the war. Two examples we want to highlight today.

Initiative of Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BWMK) for short-term help for Ukraine in the energy sector

We would like to draw your attention to an urgent request of the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) for assistance to Ukraine, which we have currently received:

“The Ukrainian Deputy Minister of Energy Yaroslav Demchenkov has approached the Federal Ministry of Economics and asked for assistance in the supply of energy carriers (hard coal, gasoline, diesel) as well as various technical goods necessary for the maintenance and continued operation of the energy supply in Ukraine. The goods are intended for Ukrainian energy companies (gas and electricity network operators and electricity producers).

The required technical goods have been hastily summarized in an Excel list, which is regularly updated by the Ukrainian Ministry of Energy. In particular, these are tools, construction materials, cables, diesel generators, radios, compressors and transformers. Due to numerous war damages, there is a high need for maintenance of the Ukrainian energy infrastructure.”

On the occasion of this request, BMWK is asking for support and is looking for companies or institutions that are willing to deliver the needed energy supplies/technical goods to the Ukrainian border on a donation basis on short notice. The Ukrainian government or Ukrainian companies would provide the transport from the Ukrainian border.

Dr. Yulia Rybak (for the Ukrainian Ministry of Energy) and Anne-Kathrin Winter (on behalf of the German Federal Ministry of Economics) are available as contact persons for you. They will also provide an updated Excel list on a regular basis. We have linked the overview of the required energy sources/goods here (as of March 5, 2022).

Dr. Yulia Rybak (contact in English)
Advisor to the Minister of Energy of Ukraine, Co-Head of the Secretariat of the German-Ukrainian Energy Partnership
dr.yulia.rybak@gmail.com
By WhatsApp as voice call via +380 995666107

Anne-Kathrin Winter
Co-Head of the Secretariat of the German-Ukrainian Energy Partnership
German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) GmbH
anne-kathrin.winter@giz.de
+380 9638 971 51

Basically, it is most effective if you contact the Ukrainian companies directly (in English). Some of the contacts of the Ukrainian companies are already included in the Excel spreadsheet. It is helpful if you always take Dr. Yulia Rybak and Ann-Kathrin Winter in Cc during the communication, so that they can keep track of the different aid deliveries. If there are still no contacts in the Excel list, Dr. Yulia Rybak can put you in touch with the Ukrainian companies.

Mr. Thomas Ebert, Managing Director of Schönborner Armaturen GmbH, has already announced his support for this initiative and could provide a transporter including driver for the transport to the Ukrainian border. If you would like to support him in his offer of help, you are welcome to contact him directly:

Thomas Ebert
E-Mail: thomas.ebert@schoenborner.com
Phone: +49 35322 1380-90

CU employees support aid organization in Ukraine

Our employees are also committed to helping the suffering people in Ukraine. Martin Kretschmann has been strengthening us in Berlin since September 2021 with his expertise in lightweight design and is expanding our network there, with a focus on the education sector. Due to his background, he speaks fluent Polish and has broad industry knowledge and contacts on both sides of the Oder. This also makes Martin Kretschmann an important interface for cooperation with our eastern neighbor.

Last week, however, he was not on the road to do any networking, but as part of his voluntary work he helped the association “Libereco Partnership for Human Rights” to procure a donation-financed van and transfer it with basic IT equipment and medical products to the Ukrainian Libereco partner organization “Vostok SOS”. The vehicle and basic equipment are urgently needed by Vostok SOS to remain operational from western Ukraine after they had to give up their location in Kiev due to the war. Key activities on the ground include medical care and evacuation of refugees.

If you would like to support this effort, please find more information at https://www.lphr.org/en/humanitaere-soforthilfe-fuer-die-ukraine/ or contact martin.kretschmann@composites-united.com directly.

Thank you for your help!