During the Government Q&A session, Oleksii Kuleba, Deputy Prime Minister for Restoration, Minister for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine, reported on the country’s preparations for the coming winter.

‘We started preparing in spring, immediately after the end of last winter. Over the summer, we carried out repairs, replaced equipment and built up reserves. Today, our level of readiness exceeds 70 per cent. This is an interim result that is in line with the plan and schedule. Preparations are ongoing, and we are working to complete all the necessary measures before the start of the heating season,’ said Mr Kuleba.

• The housing sector. Plans are in place to renovate 145,000 residential buildings. Currently, over 103,000 buildings, representing 71 per cent of the total, are ready. Roofs have been repaired in more than 7,000 houses, heating systems in 16,000, water supplies in 21,000, and electrical networks in 18,000. This will provide stable conditions for millions of families.
• Social sector. The plan provides for the preparation of 25,000 facilities. Almost 19,500 are ready, including more than 7,000 kindergartens, 9,000 educational institutions and nearly 3,000 hospitals. Children will be able to study in warm classrooms and patients will receive uninterrupted care in hospitals.
• Water supply and sewerage. Over 1,200 kilometres of water supply networks and more than 200 kilometres of sewerage networks have been prepared. A total of 2,500 water supply pumping stations, 1,600 sewerage pumping stations and 7,500 wells are ready and operational. Pumping stations are equipped with generators and fuel in case of power outages.
• Heat supply. More than 17,500 boiler rooms are being prepared for winter. Today, 13,000 of these, or 76 per cent, are ready. 238 boilers have been replaced and over 200 repaired. Almost 13,000 kilometres of heating networks have been prepared.
• Fuel reserves. Boiler rooms currently hold 90,000 tonnes of coal, 85,000 tonnes of liquid fuel, 585,000 cubic metres of firewood and 32,000 tonnes of pellets. Meanwhile, thermal and combined heat and power plants have amassed 2.4 million tonnes of coal. Underground gas storage facilities hold almost 11 billion cubic metres.
• Road infrastructure. More than 7 million square metres of road surface have been repaired, almost 4,000 specialised vehicles have been prepared and over 660,000 tonnes of gritting materials have been stockpiled. This is crucial for transporting people as well as for humanitarian and military logistics, ambulances, and rescue services.
• Cogeneration. Cogeneration plants have become an essential part of the preparations. They generate both heat and electricity, reducing dependence on large facilities while increasing system stability. A total of 908 plants are required. Donors have confirmed the supply of 551 plants, 189 of which are already in operation. The total capacity of the network is 145 megawatts.

‘This is the fourth heating season under conditions of a full-scale invasion. In Ukraine, Russia has damaged or destroyed almost a thousand critical infrastructure and life support systems. More than half of these facilities have already been restored. We are preparing for all possible scenarios to ensure a stable heating season. I am grateful to everyone who does this work every day. To every utility worker, every energy worker, every builder and every local self-government official preparing our cities and villages for the cold weather,’ emphasised Oleksii Kuleba.

As reported, last week the Government approved a programme to support frontline regions. The first package will cover 238 communities, home to over 6.6 million people. The programme’s main focus is ensuring a stable heating season.

• Each family that heats their home independently will receive UAH 19,400 to purchase firewood, coal or pellets, with payments being made from September to October.
• The state will also compensate families in frontline communities for 100 kW of electricity per month, with the programme starting in October.