Swedish consulting engineer Sweco has been selected to support reconstruction efforts in six western Ukrainian cities for the Nordic Environment Finance Corporation (Nefco).

The EU financed project sees Sweco collaborating with local consultants to build housing, schools, nurseries, and hospitals as well as fixing infrastructure.

Work starts immediately and will last for two years.

Sweco will follow EU procurement regulations in tendering contracts.

In January, the Kyiv School of Economics calculated the total replacement cost of infrastructure destroyed in Russia’s invasion to be $138bn as of December 2022.

Åsa Bergman, Sweco’s president, said: “It feels incredibly gratifying to contribute Sweco’s expertise in a concrete manner that enables meeting people’s basic needs, such as shelter, water, and electricity.

“Sweco has extensive experience in rapidly putting together and managing teams comprised of international and local players with the right skills to make this possible.

Ulf Bojö, Nefco’s vice president of green transition in eastern Europe, said: “We are pleased to see that the EU-funded action for IDPs’ urgent housing needs is now proceeding. We are committed to working towards a green recovery in Ukraine together with procured partners to ensure that Ukraine is rebuilt greener and better.”

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has caused Europe’s largest refugee crisis since the Second World War.