Headquarters to unite all services to protect the energy sector created in Ukraine

The government has created a Coordination Headquarters for Energy Protection. Photo: Oleksii Kuleba

The Cabinet of Ministers has established the Coordination Headquarters for Energy Protection, a control centre that will unite the work of all agencies responsible for energy, transport, water, heat and communications.

This was announced by Oleksii Kuleba, Vice Prime Minister for Recovery and Minister of Community and Territorial Development.

According to him, the new body will include all services responsible for the energy sector: «from the Ministry of Energy, Ukrenergo, Naftogaz, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the State Emergency Service to regional military administrations, communities and infrastructure operators». The work of the headquarters will be ensured by the Recovery Agency.

«Our main decisions today are to accelerate the construction of engineering protection around energy, transport and life support facilities. Control over the quality and safety of work is maintained, but the procedural part — from approval to conclusion of contracts — will be months shorter», said Oleksii Kuleba.

The Government has established the Coordination Headquarters for Energy Protection. Photo: Oleksii Kuleba

Earlier, «Naftogaz» reported that Ukraine is preparing for one of the most difficult winters since the war. Due to constant Russian attacks on energy infrastructure, stable gas and heat supply is becoming more difficult, and consumption has already increased significantly.

The energy situation in Ukraine

As a reminder, on the night of 3 October, the Russian army carried out the most powerful attack on the gas production facilities of Naftogaz of Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale invasion.

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A few days later, Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko said that Russia's massive attack on the night of 10 October was one of the largest concentrated strikes on Ukrainian energy facilities. The shelling caused significant damage to energy infrastructure in several regions of the country.

Earlier, Bloomberg reported that Russian strikes had destroyed 60% of Ukraine's gas production before the winter. If the shelling continues, Ukraine may be forced to import about 4.4 billion cubic metres of gas by the end of March 2026.

Ukraine's Energy Minister Svitlana Hrynchuk has already said that due to the shelling of energy infrastructure, Ukraine will increase gas imports by 30%. At the same time, the government extended the fixed gas price for Ukrainians for another year.

Later, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas said during a joint press conference with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha that the Union plans to provide Ukraine with another €100 million in aid to prepare for the winter period.

As a reminder, Mykolaiv is also preparing for the heating season, taking into account possible attacks on its energy and gas transmission infrastructure. Mayor Oleksandr Sienkevych urged the townspeople to be prepared for the most difficult scenarios, as Russian attacks on the energy system could be repeated. Read more about this in the article NikVesti: «This winter may be more difficult»: How Mykolaiv is preparing for the heating season».