Summer is gradually coming to an end, and as an old saying goes, “firewood for the winter should be harvested in the summer.” So, Ukraine is now entering the phase of the most active preparation for the heating season against the backdrop of radical changes in the government, with the appointment of a new minister.
The new head of the Cabinet of Ministers , Serhiy Koretsky , whose candidacy was supported by 289 people’s deputies on July 16, 2026, immediately after his appointment made a number of resonant statements regarding the coming winter. His words became a dot on the i, and a somewhat cold shower for those who hoped for an easy season. Separately, a clear plan of action for the state was outlined in preparation for a more dire scenario – a 12-hour power outage in winter.
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“Next winter will be harder than the last” – the main message of the new prime minister
Serhiy Koretsky, in his first speech in his new position, did not hide the fact that since the appointment would take place quickly, he had not yet had time to prepare a detailed program to present to the deputies, but he immediately spoke about the real state of affairs in preparation for the heating season and the energy sector.
According to him, the next heating season will be more difficult than all the previous ones . The reason for such a pessimistic assessment is the intensification of enemy attacks and the unresolved consequences of past shelling. Thus, the Prime Minister emphasized that as of now the enemy has begun to use significantly more means of destruction:
- the number of ballistic missile strikes has increased;
- the intensity of attacks by Shahed drones has increased;
- The scale of destruction of energy facilities due to these attacks is significant.
“The task before us is extremely difficult. I personally believe that next winter will be more difficult than the previous one , ” Koretsky noted, adding that the government must be “as prepared as possible” for any scenarios.
About schedules and 12-hour outages: what can Ukrainians expect?
Although in his statements Koretsky did not directly mention the specific number of hours in the outage schedules, such as during the most terrible times that Ukrainians remember when there was no electricity for more than 12 hours a day, he made it clear: the risks to the energy system have increased . The main task of the government now is to save people and ensure the functioning of the state’s life support systems in conditions of shortage.
And in order to minimize the time of power outages for the population and avoid 12-hour outage schedules in winter when it’s down to -25 degrees outside, as it was last winter, the government is relying on a comprehensive “Resilience Plan .” This is the only comprehensive document that the entire state machine is currently operating under.
How the state is preparing for the “winter battle”
According to the new Prime Minister, preparations for winter began virtually on the first day after the end of the last heating season. Key areas of work now include:
- Passive protection: Active work on the physical protection of critical infrastructure facilities – energy, water supply and heating networks. This may include anti-drone protection, relocation and masking of important nodes, etc.
- Accelerating the pace: Koretsky tasked the ministers to “accelerate everything that can be accelerated” if that doesn’t sound like it, in order to make it before the first cold snap.
- Social protection: Special attention will be paid to frontline communities that suffer the most from energy terror due to the impossibility of prompt restoration due to the threat to repair crews.
Experience vs. Ballistics: Is There Reason for Optimism?
Despite the alarming forecasts, Serhiy Koretsky also sees Ukraine’s strengths in this situation. He emphasized that with each passing month the country is becoming stronger and more experienced in repelling enemy ballistic attacks and countering “shaheeds.”
Read also: Who in Ukraine has completely canceled the power outage schedules: do you fall under the new rules?
The Prime Minister considers cohesion and systematic dialogue between the government and the Verkhovna Rada to be an important factor in the successful passage of the winter, because without legislative support, the Cabinet of Ministers will not be able to act promptly.
Conclusion: Koretsky’s statement honestly makes it clear that the winter will be extremely difficult, and the probability of disruptions is high due to significant destruction. Although no one can predict the exact number of hours there will be no light in winter, one thing is certain: it is worth preparing for the worst. However, the government is betting on the “Resilience Plan” and enhanced infrastructure protection, trying to prevent the worst-case scenarios of long power outages for the new heating season of 2026-2027 in Ukraine.
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