Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has mandated a strict September 1 deadline for all local authorities to finalize and implement sustainability plans for the upcoming heating season. He announced this via his official Telegram channel on Monday, April 20, following a comprehensive conference call with regional representatives, the Prime Minister, and cabinet ministers. The Head of State emphasized that the schedule is tight, and full compliance is crucial for national survival amid ongoing threats.
The sustainability plans are comprehensive documents that prioritize critical energy infrastructure for immediate restoration. They dictate where additional physical protection must be installed and outline the specific steps municipalities must take to guarantee uninterrupted heat and electricity supplies to civilians throughout the harsh winter months. “There is a strict schedule for signing contracts and completing work, which must be implemented by all regional and local authorities,” Zelensky stated.
However, the President pointed out that not all regions are adequately preparing. He specifically highlighted several areas lagging significantly behind the established schedule, including the Donetsk, Chernihiv, Poltava, Kirovohrad, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, and Lviv regions, as well as the capital city, Kyiv.
The President’s criticism of Kyiv was particularly pointed. He stated that the capital’s administration lacks an understanding that sufficient backup power and heating sources must be secured for all districts of the city, not just for centralized hubs. This aligns with Zelensky’s recent pattern of criticizing Kyiv authorities; earlier this year, he called them out for widespread heating failures following missile strikes, and in March, he noted the capital’s failure to adequately prepare for a National Security and Defense Council meeting dedicated to these very sustainability plans. Regarding the Lviv region, Zelensky demanded clear accountability from local and government officials to resolve delays at several critical energy facilities.
Beyond physical infrastructure, protecting these assets from aerial bombardment remains a top priority. Zelensky instructed the Commander of the Air Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Anatoliy Kryvonozhko, alongside Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, to collaborate closely with the heads of the most vulnerable frontline and border regions—Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Chernihiv, and Kharkiv. Their task is to provide additional interceptor systems and intensify the training of air defense crews.
“Our warriors must have a sufficient quantity and quality of response means against all types of ‘Shahed’ drones,” Zelensky emphasized. He reiterated that the Ukrainian government stands fully ready to assist regions that submit well-founded and justified requests for aid, noting that the Agency for Restoration continues to manage a separate, specialized list of strategic infrastructure projects to bolster the nation’s overall resilience.