The cost of restoring and rebuilding Ukraine’s telecommunications, digital, and media sectors is estimated at $7.1 billion between 2026 and 2035, while the total damage is estimated at $2.5 billion, according to the Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA5) report on the damage and needs caused by the large-scale Russian invasion.
It is noted that among the priorities for recovery are the repair of partially damaged telecommunications and postal infrastructure and the expansion of backup systems, such as backup power and satellite connections.
According to the document, the needs for restoration of the telecommunications sector are concentrated in frontline and densely populated areas, in particular in the Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kyiv, and Kharkiv regions, which together account for more than 65%. In terms of damage, the Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, and Kharkiv regions account for 55% of the total damage.
“The damage reflects lost revenue for private operators and postal service providers, increased operating costs due to repairs, and additional costs for backup power generators,” the report says.
“Together, the damage and losses have disrupted access to information, education, and government services,” the document states.
The RDNA5 report was prepared jointly with the World Bank, the European Commission, and the UN. It covers the period from February 24, 2022, to December 31, 2025. According to the report, the total cost of recovery in Ukraine will be $588 billion over the next decade, which is almost three times Ukraine’s projected nominal GDP for 2025. A year earlier, the estimate was $524 billion, a year before that – $486 billion, and a year before that – $411 billion.
The RDNA5 assessment estimates the direct damage to Ukraine at $195 billion, compared to $176 billion in the RDNA4 assessment and $152 billion in the RDNA3 assessment.
