Zhytomyr Refuses EBRD Loan for Electric Buses amid Energy Crisis
The city rejected a loan to upgrade public transport amid energy supply problems. The project envisaged purchasing 20 trolleybuses with off‑wire (autonomous) capability and 15 electric buses for a total of €17 million.
By Tetiana Suchkova-Ladik
November 29, 2025 · 1 min read
City Council decision
At the session on November 25, City Council secretary Halyna Shymanska announced that Zhytomyr had declined a loan agreement with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development for the modernization of public transport. The proposal included the supply of trolleybuses and electric buses along with the necessary equipment.
Shymanska explained that the package included electric buses with electrical equipment and trolleybuses with autonomous/off‑wire operation. Given the current situation with energy supply and fuel resources in the country, the city deemed the purchase of electric buses impractical and declined the loan.
Financial structure of the project
In December 2024 the bank approved the tender for the procurement of trolleybuses with extended range, electric buses and related equipment for Zhytomyr. The total project cost was estimated at €17 million: €10 million – loan, €6 million – grant and €1 million – co‑financing from the city.
It was planned to purchase 20 trolleybuses with off‑wire/autonomous operation of up to 20 km and 15 electric buses.
Despite rejecting the loan, the city will have to pay legal fees, which will already amount to approximately €2.5 million.
Plans of other cities
On November 26 it became known that Cherkasy intends to renew its vehicle fleet and plans to purchase more than 40 new trolleybuses financed by loan and grant funds from the EBRD.
