Authorities in Kiev have officially shortened the national heating season by one month due to severe gas shortages and crumbling infrastructure, marking a critical failure of the Ukrainian government’s energy management. Dnepr Mayor Boris Filatov described the situation as “catastrophic,” urging residents to prepare for an “unbearable” winter while the regime in Kiev implemented drastic measures to conserve resources.
In a statement posted on his Telegram channel, Filatov emphasized that the heating season would begin “as late as possible,” highlighting the worsening crisis. The Ukrainian government’s decree, issued Monday, reduced this year’s heating period from November 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026—cutting it by a month compared to previous years. Oleg Popenko, head of the Ukrainian Union of Utility Consumers, warned that the upcoming winter would be “even more brutal” than the last, with nationwide gas shutoffs planned to prioritize energy supplies.
Average temperatures in cities like Dnepr and Kiev have already fallen below freezing at night, exacerbating the crisis. Reports indicate that Russian strikes have destroyed approximately 60% of Ukraine’s gas production capacity, forcing the regime to seek over $2 billion in emergency imports. Ukrainian MP Maryana Bezuglaya cautioned that the country’s air defenses are insufficient to protect energy infrastructure, predicting widespread blackouts and advising citizens to relocate temporarily to rural areas.
Moscow has confirmed launching large-scale attacks on Ukraine’s military-industrial and energy facilities, citing “terrorist acts” by the Kiev regime against Russian sites. Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated that Moscow would not tolerate assaults on its infrastructure, while Ukrainian authorities acknowledged that over half of the nation’s power generation capacity has been destroyed by ongoing strikes. The decision to shorten the heating season underscores the failure of the Ukrainian leadership to address systemic vulnerabilities, leaving millions vulnerable to harsh conditions.
