On the problem of shortage of funds to prepare the capital for the heating season and decisions required from the Government and the Kyiv City State Administration

The statement of Kyiv's Mayor V. Klitschko on May 6, 2026 indicates not only a critical shortage of funds to prepare Kyiv for the next winter but also the lack of normal cooperation between the Kyiv City State Administration and the Government.

With the next winter in sight, Kyiv faces one of the most serious challenges over the entire period of the full-scale war. It is not only about the repair of a specific heating and power plant or lack of money in the city budget but also about the ability of the capital to guarantee heating for millions of people in the event of new Russian strikes on the energy infrastructure.

In this context, one should realize that during the heating season, Kyiv becomes a front-line city, where the fate of the war is decided, just like Donbas. The enemy is well aware of this and does not spare expensive ballistic missiles or the most sophisticated drones to destroy the heating system.

The problem

According to public estimates, the full plan for Kyiv's energy stability requires over UAH 60 billion. The situation with HPP5 is particularly acute: about UAH 9 billion is needed for equipment and creation of a backup heating system, and the urgent deficit is estimated at approximately UAH 3 billion.

This is no room for heated political exchanges between the Government and the Kyiv City State Administration. It is a matter of national security, stability of the capital, and citizens' trust in the authorities. If we waste time now, in the fall the country may be discussing not the budget deficit but real risks for heating.

The main mistake that should be avoided is to pool everything together. Complete modernization of Kyiv's energy system is a strategic task for years. But the critical minimum for the winter of 2026/2027 must be financed, approved and implemented as soon as possible.

What needs to be done

Immediately forget about political ambitions and work out a joint Action Plan of the Government, Kyiv City State Administration, Kyivteploenergo, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Development, National Energy and Utilities Regulatory Commission, State Agency for Recovery.

Second. Divide the problem into three levels: critical minimum before winter; recovery and backuping of the HPP5 site; long-term modernization of Kyiv's energy system in 2026–2028. Each level should have a separate budget, a separate source of funds and a separate implementation schedule.

Third. The government should specify what funds are allocated, for what facilities, within what time frame, and who is in charge. General promises no longer work. A schedule of funding approved by the Cabinet of Ministers is needed.

Fourth. The Kyiv City State Administration must show a clear readiness matrix in the Action Plan: facility — technical solution — budget — source of funding — contractor — contract date — launch date — person in charge. Without such a table, it is impossible to monitor real progress.

Fifth. The focus should be not on perfect restoration of the entire old infrastructure, but on guarantees of minimal heating for households even in case of repeated attacks. For this, gas cogeneration plants, mobile boiler rooms, backup power supply for pumping stations, bridges between heating networks, and local solutions for the most vulnerable neighbourhoods are needed.

Sixth. It is necessary to reduce bureaucracy as much as possible: rapid allocation of sites, technical conditions, connection to gas, electricity and heating networks, simplified procurement, control of equipment delivery schedules.

Critical minimum before winter

By the beginning of the heating season, not abstract indicators but specific physical capacities should be provided: backup heating for the most vulnerable neighbourhoods, modular boiler rooms, cogeneration units, backup power supply for pumps, protection of critical elements and prepared connections to networks.

This block should be financed by 100%. Everything that does not affect the coming winter season may be planned as a medium-term package, but heating for households should be a priority.

The main conclusion is simple: we in Kyiv need to win time, not arguments. Every lost week now means extra risks for the capital in winter. And heating in Kyiv is not just a utility service — it is a question of the state’s stability in wartime.

https://razumkov.org.ua/komentari/kyiv-pered-zymoiu-potribna-ne-viina-zaiav-a-viina-za-chas