Two British businesses have launched a fundraising campaign to support a Ukrainian hospital.

Reading-based Photon Energy and Cambridgeshire-based Midsummer Energy are aiming to raise £15,000 to provide a 36.5kW solar PV/battery system for Slobozhanske Hospital in Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine.

So far, £8,152 has been raised.

The project aims to provide reliable electricity for critical areas of the hospital, such as intensive care units and maternity wards, frequently affected by power cuts due to the ongoing war.

This involves purchasing equipment from suppliers, with the installation to be supported by Ukrainian professionals.

The Midsummer Energy team began their fundraising challenge on October 14.

Over the course of a month, volunteers have attempted to collectively run 1,900 miles, the distance from their UK head office in Cambridge to Slobozhanske Hospital.

This is part of the RePower Ukraine initiative, which aims to help the healthcare system cope with increased demand due to many hospitals being damaged by shelling.

Around 1,500 of Ukraine's 4,500 hospitals have been irreparably damaged, forcing the remaining hospitals to meet increased demand on their resources.

The destruction of much of the country's electricity infrastructure has also led to rolling power cuts, leaving hospitals without electricity for up to 18 hours a day.

The new solar PV/battery system is expected to help alleviate this problem, ensuring essential services can continue during power outages.