President of the European Council Charles Michel (right), European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (left) and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky shake hands following a press conference after a round-table meeting as part of a EU summit in Brussels, on Feb 9, 2023. (PHOTO / AFP)

KYIV - Ukraine has received 22.2 billion euros (about $23.54 billion) in financial aid from the European Union since the start of the conflict with Russia, the Finance Ministry said on Monday.

This year alone, the EU has earmarked 15 billion euros (about 15.9 billion dollars) as direct budget support for Ukraine under the large-scale Macro-Financial Assistance, the ministry said.

Earlier in the day, Ukraine received the ninth tranche under the MFA worth 1.5 billion euros (about 1.59 billion dollars).

By the end of the year, the European Union is set to distribute two more tranches totalling 3 billion euros (about 3.18 billion dollars) under the aid package

By the end of the year, the EU is set to distribute two more tranches totalling 3 billion euros (about 3.18 billion dollars) under the aid package.

Commenting on the EU assistance, Ukrainian Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko said it would help Ukraine maintain the smooth functioning of its financial system.

ALSO READ: Kyiv expects EU to lift embargo on Ukrainian grain

Separately, about 840 enterprises in Ukraine have been relocated within the country to safer regions since the start of the Ukraine-Russia conflict, the government-run Ukrinform news agency reported Monday.

These Ukrainian entrepreneurs have transferred their facilities to 16 relatively safe regions in Ukraine under a government program of relocation. The majority of the enterprises have moved to western Ukraine, according to the report.

Among the relocated enterprises, 667 are fully operational in their new locations.

READ MORE: Kyiv: Blocking of Ukraine's grain deal to EU 'unacceptable'

According to the latest United Nations estimates, more than 5 million people have been internally displaced in Ukraine due to the conflict.