Statement by Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal at Government session

Dear colleagues, fellow Ukrainians!

We are starting a regular Government meeting.

First of all, we are going to talk about energy, which is always in the centre of our attention.

We are intensively preparing for the winter. We are focused on the maximum restoration of everything that can be restored.

We are also focused on implementing a package of government programmes to develop distributed generation and increase the share of renewable energy. This is part of our Energy Strategy and part of our path to EU membership.

Today, the Government is adopting a document that introduces the practice of pilot auctions for the allocation of support quotas for renewable energy producers. We are talking about solar, wind, biogas, as well as micro and small hydropower plants.

We are testing the system of ‘green’ auctions to launch it in full force in 2025.

Potential investors will have guaranteed support, and this will accelerate the implementation of renewable energy projects. This, in turn, will reduce the overall capacity deficit in the grid.

Today, we are also approving the National Renewable Energy Action Plan for the period up to 2030 and a plan of measures for its implementation.

The document is clearly correlated with European norms and standards. It aims to increase the share of green energy in gross final consumption to 27% by 2030.

The Plan includes 38 measures, prescribes performance indicators and identifies responsible parties.

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Along with preparing for the new heating season, we are also preparing for the new academic year.

The most important thing here is the safety of our children.

In early August, the Government approved a methodology for assessing the safety of schools, which provides for 5 levels of risk. This will help communities to set priorities and build shelters exactly where they are needed.

Through the implementation of a comprehensive strategy, we aim to return 300,000 schoolchildren to safe offline learning by the end of 2024. The availability of shelters is a key prerequisite.

UAH 2.5 billion has been allocated this year for their construction. It is important that these funds are spent efficiently on the ground.

It is also important that we have clear, reliable standards for safe school spaces where it is not possible to use underground shelters and where the security situation allows.

To this end, the State Emergency Service and the Ministry of Education and Science have jointly developed three options for arranging above-ground shelters, which we are approving today. Communities will be able to implement them depending on the need and level of threats in the locality and region.

As a result, about a thousand schools will be able to start the process of full-time education this academic year.

We are making another decision in the field of education. We are allocating UAH 1.5 billion in subventions to regional budgets to implement the New Ukrainian School standards.

These are funds for the purchase of computer and multimedia equipment, furniture, educational literature, and for professional development of teachers.

Investments in education are investments in our future.

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The next focus is on regional policy.

The practice of offsite meetings of the Government is yielding positive results. Relevant instructions are given, decisions are made in favour of communities and regions. We will continue this work.

At the last meeting in Chernihiv region, I instructed the Ministry for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development to immediately work on the issue of allocating UAH 2.7 billion for a pilot project to restore a number of settlements in the frontline regions.

In particular, we are talking about Yahidne in Chernihiv region, Posad-Pokrovske in Kherson region, Tsyrkuny in Kharkiv region, and Trostyanets in Sumy region.

Today, we are already making a direct decision to allocate these funds, which will accelerate the comprehensive reconstruction of these communities for the speedy return of people and the development of the local economy.

By another resolution, we are engaging regional military administrations as construction customers in the implementation of pilot projects.

Today we are also updating the State Regional Development Strategy for 2021-2027.

We are updating it, taking into account the challenges of the war and the recommendations of the European Union. We set ourselves a number of ambitious goals. In particular:

• to create conditions for Ukrainians to return home;
• to restore and develop infrastructure;
• to integrate our defenders into communities;
• to increase the institutional and financial capacity of local governments;
• to synchronise regional development policies and other sectoral policies.

The regions will prepare their own strategic documents based on the updated Strategy. The Government and the relevant ministry will provide maximum assistance.

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In conclusion.

Yesterday, Ukraine celebrated Youth Day.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced a package of additional support designed specifically for young Ukrainians.

Pursuant to the President’s order, we are promptly adopting changes to the eOselia programme.

We are talking about reducing the down payment on a mortgage to 10% for citizens under the age of 25 inclusive.

In total, more than 12,000 Ukrainian families have already benefited from this programme. These include military personnel, law enforcement officers, teachers, doctors and scientists.

We expect the share of young people in the programme to grow. Young families will have more opportunities to buy property and ensure their own well-being.

I am grateful to all those who are defending Ukraine at the frontline today. Those who are working for a common result in the rear. To all those who make our country strong and resilient.

Together we will win and rebuild!

Thank you for your attention!

Glory to Ukraine!