The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, has expressed concern regarding the readiness of various regions for the upcoming heating season. He emphasized the need for assured heating and electricity supply during winter, despite ongoing threats of shelling.
Zelensky made these remarks on his Telegram channel following a meeting with regional leaders, including Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal and other government representatives, to discuss preparations for the winter season.
According to the president, specific resilience plans have been approved for all regions, cities, and communities. These plans outline which facilities require immediate restoration, where infrastructure protection needs to be enhanced, and the tasks that local authorities must complete to ensure residents have access to heating and electricity during the winter months.
However, he noted that not all regions are adhering to the established preparation timeline. The meeting specifically addressed the situations in Donetsk, Chernihiv, Poltava, Kirovohrad, Lviv, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, and Kyiv.
Zelensky particularly highlighted the need for adequate backup sources of electricity and heating for all districts in the capital city.
Additionally, the president instructed the command of the Ukrainian Air Force, in collaboration with the Ministry of Defense, to work with leaders from Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Chernihiv, and Kharkiv regions to enhance interceptor capabilities and prepare crews to combat Shahed-type drones.
He reiterated that all cities and communities must complete their resilience plans by September 1, with the government ready to support regions that require justified assistance.
On March 20, the government allocated 12.85 billion hryvnias for initial protective measures for 209 critical infrastructure facilities in frontline regions and Kyiv as part of the winter preparation efforts.
On March 14, President Zelensky signed a decree implementing the National Security and Defense Council’s decision regarding resilience plans for Ukrainian cities and regions, which includes preparations for winter through 2027.
Earlier, Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal stated that authorities are developing both active and passive protection measures for Ukrainian energy facilities. He indicated that the total funding required for such initiatives amounts to 35 billion hryvnias.
On March 27, the government allocated an additional 9.2 billion hryvnias for protective measures for 245 critical infrastructure facilities in non-frontline areas of Ukraine. These funds will be distributed as part of the resilience plans for winter 2027.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has raised concerns about the preparedness of various regions for the upcoming winter heating season. Specific resilience plans have been established, but adherence to timelines remains inconsistent across regions.