Government Adopted a Series of Decisions to Strengthen Energy Protection

"At an extraordinary meeting, we adopted a number of decisions that will make the protection and restoration of critical facilities more effective. They provide the relevant agencies and services with the opportunity to quickly allocate funds and repair damage," Svyrydenko wrote. In particular, the Coordination Center for Engineering Protection was created, which will unite representatives of the government, regional and local authorities, and infrastructure operators. It will determine priorities for the financing and restoration of facilities, coordinate actions, and monitor the execution of works. The center's work will be supervised by Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba and the Recovery Agency. The government also updated the list of priority state expenditures, which will allow the State Treasury to more quickly allocate funds from the state budget for the construction, repair, and protection of energy facilities so that they function even during attacks. Furthermore, the Cabinet of Ministers reduced the procedural part of constructing protective structures—from approvals to the conclusion of contracts. Government officials also allocated additional funds from the reserve fund for the protection and restoration of critical infrastructure in frontline regions and Ukrzaliznytsia (Ukrainian Railways). "The funds will go toward strengthening energy, transport, and vital systems—from generators and battery stations to the construction of engineering protection. This will allow for faster construction of protective structures, prompt restoration of damaged facilities, and ensuring the uninterrupted operation of the energy sector," Svyrydenko added. As reported, the readiness level of third-level protective structures for high-voltage substations currently stands at 54%, while the first and second levels are at 95-98%.