Thanks to the coordinated efforts of all branches of government — central authorities, local governments, and enterprises — Ukraine has completed the preparation of housing and utility facilities for the winter season. This year, preparations were carried out according to a new scheme approved by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, taking into account the specifics of martial law.
This was reported on Ukrainian Radio by Timur Tkachенко, Deputy Minister of Community and Territorial Development of Ukraine, who shared the new approaches and measures implemented to ensure the stability of energy and heating infrastructure during the war.
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Features of preparation under martial law conditions
This year, preparations for the heating season followed a special plan that addressed the following key aspects:
- Protection of energy infrastructure from potential attacks and damage;
- Creation of a distributed heat and electricity generation system to ensure reliability of supply in case of damage;
- Modification of networks to allow for the reconnection of heat sources through bypasses in case of emergency situations.
“Thanks to these measures, the system has become more resilient to loads and potential damages, ensuring more stable heat supply during the challenges of the war period,” said Tkachенко.
Action plans and regional provision
The Deputy Minister also emphasized the importance of developing individual action plans for each community, taking into account the specifics of heating systems, energy infrastructure, and available resources. Specifically, action plans have been created for each community, considering potential shelling and damage to critical infrastructure. “We know the equipment needs of each region and understand how many additional gas units and modular boilers are needed. Work on attracting funds and equipment to meet these needs continues,” Tkachенко reported.
According to current legislation, each settlement must have its own action plan, corresponding to specific heating schemes and energy requirements.
Decentralized generation as a strategic task
Decentralization of heat generation is an important strategic task for the successful passage of the 2024-2025 heating season. This involves creating a system that allows for the rapid switching of heat and energy sources between various facilities in case one part of the network is damaged.
International support and technical assistance
The Deputy Minister also noted the significant support from international partners such as the World Bank, USAID Ukraine, Energy Community, and UNICEF, who are actively assisting Ukraine in the energy sector.
Given the war, it is crucial not only to restore damaged facilities but also to protect them, attract technical assistance, and build new generation facilities. “We must implement new approaches to ensure reliable energy supply in the coming years,” emphasized Tkachенко.
Readiness for the heating season in the regions
Readiness for the heating season varies by region, especially in those areas most affected by regular enemy shelling. Timur Tkachенко provided current data on the number of heating plants connected in different regions of Ukraine:
- Donetsk region — 78%;
- Zaporizhzhia region — 84%;
- Kharkiv region — 95%;
- Chernihiv region — 100%;
- Mykolaiv region — 100%;
- Sumy region — 99%;
- Odesa region — 85%;
- Kherson region — 15% (technically ready).
The Deputy Minister also noted that under the government initiative “Points of Resilience,” ongoing information is provided about the progress of the heating season, action plans in case of worsening security situations, and recommendations for more efficient energy resource usage.
Conclusion
Preparing for the winter season in the midst of war presents a tremendous challenge. However, thanks to the joint efforts of government bodies, local authorities, and international partners, the housing and utility system shows high readiness for the winter load. The introduction of new technologies and action plans, as well as the decentralization of heat generation, significantly enhances the resilience of Ukraine’s energy system and ensures stable heating even in the most difficult conditions of wartime.
