Statement by Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal at a Government session

I greet everyone, distinguished colleagues, dear Ukrainians.

The start of the heating season is the topic on which the Government primarily focuses its attention. Currently, about 70% of residential buildings and social infrastructure are connected to heat. And this figure is increasing on a daily basis. According to the data of the regional military administrations (RMA), the readiness for the heating season makes up 100%, but not all facilities in non-frontline regions are connected due to mild weather conditions. In some regions, 100% of boiler houses have already been operational. We are in constant contact with local authorities and do everything we can to ensure that Ukrainians’ homes are provided with heat.

This night has once again shown that we are still under constant threat of russian terrorist attacks. In total, over 400 critical infrastructure facilities in the field of electricity and heat supply have been damaged during the full-scale war. In most cases, these are boiler houses. Mostly in the Kharkiv, Kyiv and Donetsk regions. Terrorists also disabled a number of power units at thermal power stations and combined heat and power plants. We are trying to restore everything at a rapid pace. The work is going on 24/7.

Unfortunately, we again have to admit that everyone should be prepared for various scenarios and even emergencies. First of all, such readiness should be demonstrated by local authorities through organizing an extensive network of heating points. Each head of the RMA, city head and community head is personally responsible for gearing up for severe winter trials.

The second crucial topic is the state of Ukrainian energy sector. Over the past five weeks, dozens of Ukrenergo substations and more than 10 generation facilities have been shelled. Some of them multiple times.

Thanks to the heroic efforts of our power engineers, we manage to gradually restore the damaged and destroyed equipment. We thank them daily for their selfless work and light in our homes.

All this work requires significant financial resources. More than UAH 2.5 billion is needed to restore the generation at the damaged thermal power stations and combined heat and power plants. According to the most conservative estimates, about UAH 5 billion is required to restore facilities of power distribution system operators.

Scheduled power outages will continue. From October 10 to October 31, they affected more than 9 million people. This is a necessary measure to preserve the integrity of the energy system and protect it from overloads.

As in previous weeks, conscious consumption of electricity by Ukrainians, especially during peak hours, will help power engineers. This is the contribution of each of us to energy sustainability.

Unfortunately, we cannot rule out new russian strikes. Currently, comprehensive measures are being taken in each region to protect the energy infrastructure, our air defense is being reinforced.

It is worth noting that the Ukrainian energy system is integrated into the European one, and this also provides additional capabilities for balancing our network.

In general, Ukraine’s movement towards Europe is becoming an ever more practical. One of the aspects of this path is the increase of trade with the EU and new logistics on the western borders. Modernization and expansion of border infrastructure is one of the key elements of this strategy.

Yesterday, the Prime Minister of Romania and I opened a new border crossing point on our common border. The first one since 1998, which was built from scratch. But not the last one. Together with our European neighbors in the West, we are working to ensure that the borders do not divide us, but unite us.

In the same context, the Government today takes a decision to expand the water area of seaports on the Danube. It concerns the ports in Izmail, Reni and the port of Ust-Dunaysk. Over the past six months, we managed to increase the cargo turnover of these ports from 30 thousand tonnes per month to 1.7 million tonnes. By more than 50 times. And this is not the limit. We see that there are up to a hundred ships in queues to enter these ports, and therefore we are working to expand their capacity. Today’s decision of the Government is aimed at this. In addition, it will increase the safety of navigation on the Danube, in particular the control and maintenance of declared depths.

By opening new border crossing points and expanding the water area of the Danube ports, we will be able to increase exports and strengthen economic stability.

Aiming to support the private sector and the Ukrainian economy, we have also decided to launch two more industrial parks. This is the “Eco-Smart Park Galit” in the Lviv region, where, on an area of 19 hectares, more than a thousand jobs will be created in the processing industry. And in the Ternopil region, there will be established the “Western Ukrainian Industrial Hub”, thereby allowing to create more than a thousand workplaces in the light, food and processing industries.

Together we are building a strong economy, rebuilding what the enemy has destroyed and creating new facilities to ensure the recovery of our country.

Thank you for your attention. Glory to Ukraine!