Oleksii Kuleba to lead headquarters for 2025/26 heating season preparations

The Government has established a headquarters to prepare for the 2025–2026 heating season, led by Deputy Prime Minister for Restoration of Ukraine and Minister for Communities and Territories Development, Oleksii Kuleba.

The headquarters will coordinate the efforts of central and local executive authorities, facilitate the creation of regional and municipal headquarters, promptly address issues, and continuously monitor the preparation of housing and utility infrastructure for winter.

“We are already actively preparing for the next heating season. Our priority is to maintain energy resilience and ensure people have light and heat, regardless of external circumstances. We have analysed the previous season and have concrete solutions to minimise risks. We must be ready for any scenarios, including targeted attacks on critical infrastructure. We are working proactively: continuing energy decentralisation, developing backup heat supply sources, accelerating the construction of cogeneration units and modular boiler houses. Special attention is being paid to restoring energy grids in frontline regions that have suffered the most damage, as well as modernising the energy supply system,” Oleksii Kuleba emphasised.

Preparations for the new heating season are already underway. To date, 130 MW of cogeneration unit capacity and 250 MW of thermal capacity from modular boiler houses have been commissioned. In total, over 900 MW of new capacity is planned to be connected in 2025.

Additionally, preparations for winter are supported by international partners. The Ukraine Energy Support Fund has accumulated over EUR 1.1 billion, which is being allocated to procure equipment for the restoration and modernisation of energy infrastructure.

The headquarters includes the Deputy Minister for Communities and Territories Development and the Deputy Minister of Energy as deputy heads. It also involves leaders and representatives from the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Social Policy, Ministry of Finance, the National Commission for State Regulation of Energy and Public Utilities, the State Emergency Service, Naftogaz of Ukraine, the Association of Cities of Ukraine, the Ukrteplokomunenergo Association, relevant parliamentary committees, and advisors to the Prime Minister of Ukraine.