This was stated by a Member of Parliament of Ukraine, the First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Energy and Housing and Utilities Services, during a speech in the session hall yesterday.
He recalled that NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine locked the accounts of heat providers due to outstanding debts for consumed gas, pointing out that this debt arose because the state failed to implement compensation mechanisms in a timely manner.
"District heating companies do not have this money because the government and the state budget owe them 75 billion UAH [in tariff difference compensations]. Since 2022, when we imposed a moratorium [on increasing heat tariffs], the budget was supposed to cover the funding for the tariff difference. Ask your mayor or heating utility provider today: what is their status, and how are they preparing for winter? What resilience plans can we talk about when they are currently forced to essentially shut down and lay off staff?" the MP emphasized.
Kucherenko specifically drew attention to the Resilience Plans. He noted that currently, several decision-making centers—ranging from the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine to the relevant Vice Prime Minister—are involved in preparing and planning their implementation. However, in his view, the key criterion remains actual results for local communities, rather than the number of headquarters or meetings.
The main risk today is the total lack of funding sources for these resilience measures.
"The funding sources [for the resilience plans] have still not been identified. The figure is astronomical; the cost of the issue is 280 billion UAH. Where this money will come from and how it will be financed remains absolutely unclear. Kyiv is a striking example: the total cost of its resilience plan is 65 billion UAH, but only 10–12 billion UAH is available today. Who is going to implement these projects? No plans will end well without funding," he stressed.
As Kucherenko concluded, Ukraine has just survived a very difficult winter. "We understand what energy resilience and energy security mean. But there is absolutely no reason to believe that the next winter will be easier. Unfortunately, it will be even harder," he summarized.
"Naftogaz" Has Blocked the Accounts of 69 District Heating Companies: Winter Preparation Under Threat.
