Svyrydenko: Regions Must Submit Co-Financing Plans for Critical Infrastructure Protection Next Week

Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko has once again highlighted the importance of safeguarding the nation's critical infrastructure, stating that every region must submit their co-financing plans for protection works from local budgets by the end of next week. This initiative is part of the preparations for the upcoming winter, during which the country must be ready for potential attacks on its infrastructure facilities.

Svyrydenko pointed out that in the Kharkiv, Poltava, and Donetsk regions, it is necessary to ensure the protection of 660 facilities. She also noted that these works are included in the resilience plans of the regions, which were presented at the fifth meeting of the Government Coordination Center. The Prime Minister emphasized that the security of these facilities is a priority for the government, especially in light of increasing threats.

During the meeting, government officials discussed not only the co-financing plans but also the status of the launch of infrastructure protection works in other regions. It is crucial for all regions to be prepared to proceed on schedule, and for the implementation of the initial stages of protection to occur without delays. Svyrydenko stressed the need for clear coordination between local authorities and the central government to achieve the set goals.

The Prime Minister also reported that the government has already allocated funding for the initial works. Specifically, in March, 22.1 billion hryvnias were allocated for the protection of 576 facilities. This represents the largest expenditure from the state budget's reserve fund, underscoring the government's serious approach to the issue of critical infrastructure protection.

The funds that have been allocated are already being directed towards the protection of major energy facilities, substations, transformers, gas distribution stations, as well as the infrastructure of Ukrzaliznytsia. This will not only enhance the security of these strategic objects but also ensure the stability of energy supplies across the country.

Thus, the Ukrainian government is demonstrating its readiness for proactive measures in the realm of critical infrastructure protection, which is particularly important in the face of modern challenges. Svyrydenko called on all regions to actively cooperate and submit their plans in a timely manner to ensure the security and resilience of the regions in the future.