Statement by Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal at Government session

Good afternoon, dear colleagues, fellow Ukrainians.

Today we are working in Kharkiv region.

All week, ministerial teams have been in the region to discuss challenges and tasks.

There are a lot of challenges. These include the heating season, the economic situation in the region, security, medical services, infrastructure and many other issues.

Since the beginning of the year, the Government has allocated an additional UAH 12.1 billion to Kharkiv region.

Almost UAH 6 billion was allocated for the construction of fortifications.

Additional UAH 2.5 billion for the heating season, including UAH 2.0 billion specifically for the city of Kharkiv.

UAH 1.7 billion to restore people’s homes, medical and educational facilities.

To support the regional economy, in April the Government decided to reduce the tax burden on entrepreneurs who continue to operate in Kharkiv region.

Under the eRobota programme for Kharkiv and Kharkiv region, we have doubled the amount of grants to UAH 500,000. This applies to the Vlasna Sprava component.

We have also improved the conditions for Kharkiv entrepreneurs under the 5-7-9 affordable loan programme. The limit has been increased to UAH 150 million and the term to 10 years.

Almost UAH 2 billion of concessional loans have been issued to farmers in the region under this programme since the beginning of the year.

The Government has also helped to restore housing for almost 20,000 families in Kharkiv region through the eVidnovlennia programme.

Today we are making a decision to allocate an additional UAH 6.8 billion for this programme.

UAH 2.4 billion of these funds will be used to repair Ukrainians’ homes. This includes minor, medium and major repairs. We are grateful to the World Bank, which is financing this programme and providing Ukraine with a grant for the corresponding amount.

Another UAH 4.4 billion is being allocated to finance housing certificates for 3,000 people. We thank the Council of Europe Development Bank for its support and funding of this component.

eVidnovlennia is one of the most successful reconstruction programmes, and it is important that the residents of Kharkiv region are actively and successfully using it.

The next challenge is to prepare for the heating season.

As I have already mentioned, we have allocated UAH 2.5 billion to Kharkiv region for this purpose.

Today, the Government is allocating an additional UAH 1.9 billion to restore heat supply to the city of Kharkiv. These funds are part of a grant from the World Bank.

The necessary equipment will be purchased and works will be carried out to ensure that city residents have heat in their homes in winter.

Work is also underway to strengthen the protection of energy facilities and restore the operation of thermal power plants.

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We also have a number of tasks and instructions that ministries and responsible authorities must promptly fulfil.

First. Establish rehabilitation units in multidisciplinary hospitals. Cluster and supercluster medical institutions must sign contracts with the National Health Service for rehabilitation care packages. This must be done by 1 November this year.

Second. The Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Economy should develop additional mechanisms and opportunities for concessional lending to businesses in Kharkiv region. The National Bank and state-owned banks should be involved in this work.

Third. The Ministry of Energy and the Ministry for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development should work on the redistribution of cogeneration units provided as humanitarian aid. Frontline regions should receive such units and mini-CHPs first.

Fourth. The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources and the State Agency for Restoration and Infrastructure Development should take measures to overhaul the hydraulic structures of the Krasnopavlivka reservoir.

Fifth. The Ministry for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources and the regional authorities should work out possible alternative sources of water supply for the region and protect water infrastructure facilities.

These tasks should be completed as soon as possible, as these are priority issues for Kharkiv region.

We have also developed a number of other issues that are no less urgent, so please take them all into account and implement them promptly. We need to support people and Kharkiv region.

Today I want to thank all our defenders who are defending Kharkiv region and holding back the aggressor in this area.

I thank everyone who treats, teaches, restores, and works on their native land, despite all the difficulties and threats.

Thank you for your attention.

Glory to Ukraine!