Government may change curfew rules due to energy crisis and frost
Against the backdrop of severe frosts and the consequences of Russian attacks on energy infrastructure, Ukraine will introduce a state of emergency in the energy sector. This was announced by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy following a special meeting dedicated to stabilising the energy system and supporting the population.
According to the head of state, the legalisation of the state of emergency will give the government more tools for prompt decisions and removal of bureaucratic restrictions. The First Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Energy have been appointed as the head of the work on coordination of actions and assistance to communities.
Emergency mode in the energy sector
The President stressed that the emergency situation was caused by both the strikes on energy facilities and the sharp cold snap. Repair teams, energy companies, utilities and the State Emergency Service are working around the clock to restore electricity and heat supply. As part of this regime, the government is deregulating the process of connecting backup equipment to the grid as much as possible.
Electricity imports and international support
The Cabinet of Ministers has been instructed to intensify cooperation with international partners to obtain equipment and additional assistance. Separately, Zelenskyy stated the need to significantly increase electricity imports using all available commercial opportunities.
Curfew during frost
One of the key solutions may be to revise the curfew rules. The President suggested that during an emergency, it could be cancelled or relaxed for certain cities and communities where the security situation allows. The goal is to ensure that people have round-the-clock access to support points and businesses can plan their work more rationally, taking into account energy restrictions.
Special attention to Kyiv and resilience points
The meeting focused on the situation in Kyiv, Odesa, Dnipro, Kryvyi Rih and other cities. Zelenskyy noted Kharkiv's better preparedness, while criticising the capital for its lack of emergency preparedness. According to him, very little has been done in Kyiv, and these shortcomings need to be urgently addressed. A permanent coordination headquarters will be set up in the capital, and the number of resilience points should be significantly increased and their readiness tested.
Education and coordination
The President also instructed the Ministry of Education and Science, together with local authorities, to prepare proposals on the formats of the educational process during the emergency. He emphasised that effective cooperation between state institutions, business and local self-government is critical to overcome the energy challenges of this winter.
Photo by Facebook Zelenskyy.official
