In brief — why this matters
In response to widespread blackouts and a critical heating shortage, President Volodymyr Zelensky has initiated immediate inspections and instructed the government to procure equipment for alternative electricity and heat generation. This is not a technical detail — the speed of implementation will determine the comfort and safety of hundreds of thousands of people in the capital and regions.
Which areas are most affected
According to information voiced during the teleconference, the most difficult situation is in Kyiv and Kyiv region, Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia regions. In the capital, more than 1,200 apartment buildings are still without heating; tent camps have already been deployed in Troieshchyna due to power outages.
Specific directives
Zelensky directly addressed the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance, asking them to analyze possibilities for urgent purchases of anything that can realistically serve as an alternative to centralized supply: generators, mobile boilers, equipment for warming centers and support for critical infrastructure. The Minister of Energy is maintaining constant contact with local leaders and partners for rapid provision.
Reports on the situation in the regions where the energy situation is most difficult. Primarily this is Kyiv and Kyiv region, Kharkiv and the region, Chernihiv region, Sumy region, Dnipro region, Zaporizhzhia. The most attention and time in the discussion was given to Kyiv. Extremely difficult circumstances: more than 1,200 apartment buildings in the city are still without heating. We discussed with local leaders and government officials how we can help most quickly. So far, all the deadlines that were mentioned cannot be considered satisfactory — we need to act faster
— Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine
What is already being done locally
Local authorities and the Ministry of Internal Affairs reported organizing warming centers, hot meals and mobile communications. In Kyiv, tent camps are being partially set up to temporarily house residents without heating. At the same time, the prosecutor's office reported criminal proceedings regarding the preparedness of the city's officials — a signal that responsibility for infrastructure readiness is now being examined at the level of the law.
Why this is not just a technical solution
Alternative generation is a quick tool to reduce risk to people, but also a logistical challenge: procurement, delivery, installation, authorization and maintenance. Energy sector analysts note that success depends not only on money but on coordination with local communities and international partners.
I instructed the Prime Minister of Ukraine, together with the Minister of Finance, to analyze possibilities, including Kyiv’s, to urgently procure everything that is currently truly necessary for alternative electricity generation and heat supply. The Minister of Energy of Ukraine is in constant contact with partners and, together with local leaders, must determine the list of additional support for Ukraine and the possibilities of obtaining it in the coming days and weeks
— Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine
What’s next and what to watch for
The next 48–72 hours are important for two things: first, for the government to form a clear list of required equipment and delivery timelines; second, for international and private partners to be able to quickly plug into the logistics. A technical decision will become a real relief for people only if it is rapidly turned into delivery and installation on the ground.
Questions for the authorities and society: will there be enough coordination and speed to turn declarations into functioning heating and power systems in the coming days? The safety and health of thousands of Ukrainian families depend on this.
