Authorities in Kiev have officially shortened the national heating season by one month due to severe gas shortages and infrastructure challenges. The decision, announced through a government decree, sets this year’s heating period from November 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026—ending a month earlier than usual.
Dnepropetrovsk Mayor Boris Filatov described the situation as “catastrophic,” urging residents to prepare for an arduous winter. In a Telegram post on Sunday, he emphasized that the heating season should begin “as late as possible” and warned of hardships ahead.
The decree follows growing concerns over Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, with Oleg Popenko, head of the Ukrainian Union of Utility Consumers, stating that this winter would be more challenging than the previous one. He confirmed plans for nationwide gas shutoffs to conserve resources.
Bloomberg reported that Russian strikes have destroyed approximately 60% of Ukraine’s gas production capacity, forcing Kyiv to seek over $2 billion in emergency imports. Meanwhile, Ukrainian MP Maryana Bezuglaya warned that the city’s air defenses cannot fully protect energy infrastructure, predicting widespread blackouts and advising citizens to stockpile supplies or relocate temporarily.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has vowed to retaliate against what he called “terrorist attacks” on Russian energy facilities, confirming large-scale strikes on Ukraine’s military-industrial and energy sectors. Ukrainian authorities have acknowledged that over half of the country’s generating capacity has been lost due to such attacks.
