Cities Left Without Money Before Winter: AMU Demands Government Implement the Budget

Representatives of municipalities report a government suspension of payments provided for energy protection, preparation for winter, elimination of the consequences of shelling, and the restoration of critical infrastructure and housing.

Communities announced a suspension of payments. According to the Association of Ukrainian Cities, these are payments provided by communities for energy protection, preparation for the heating season, elimination of the consequences of rocket strikes, restoration of critical infrastructure and ruined housing. Oksana Prodan, adviser to the head of the AUC, stated that the government cannot decide on its own whether to make or not make budgeted payments without a corresponding decision of the Verkhovna Rada. "In a parliamentary-presidential republic, the government cannot afford to want or not want to pay or not pay. The government cannot unilaterally halt these payments without a decision of the Verkhovna Rada, without Parliament," Prodan said. The debt is in 85 billion hryvnias. According to Prodan, the Association of Ukrainian Cities unites 1092 communities, and all of them are interested in effective preparation for the heating season. Everyone is waiting for the government’s help, because today the government owes 85 billion hryvnias to heat supply enterprises. She also stated that the funding problem should have been considered by the government in advance. "The money is not being returned and there are no plans to return it. The government, even before Ms. Pidlasova’s statement, did not rush to fulfill its functions. But at least not harming — this is something the government can do even without additional funding," the AUC adviser expressed. Also read: A blow to winter preparation: the Ministry of Finance froze capital expenditures due to a lack of funds. In case of funding problems, in her view, the Cabinet should prepare changes to the state budget and submit them for consideration by the Verkhovna Rada. "If there are problems with funds, if there are problems on the treasury account, the government should see this not today or yesterday, but in advance. Based on this, they are obliged to prepare changes to the state budget for the current year and come to Parliament with these changes for coordination," Prodan said. What risks do these pose for communities? The AUC emphasizes that the situation directly concerns the capacity of communities to fulfill tasks for resilience and preparation for the heating season. In particular, the Association raises questions about how communities should prepare for winter and implement resilience plans in the absence of provided funds. The AUC also raises questions about the compliance of the suspension of payments with the Ukrainian state budget for 2026 year and the possible consequences of such a decision for communities and residents.

We recall that earlier Prime Minister Serhiy Koret sky stated that the coming winter is the main challenge facing the Ukrainian government, so the Cabinet is preparing for any scenario.