Panteleiev explained why backup power for Kyiv began to be purchased so late

In Kyiv, funds to create a backup power system for water supply were allocated only in 2025, and for the engineering protection of critical infrastructure — in 2026. Deputy Head of the KMDA Petro Panteleiev explained at a meeting of the Temporary Investigative Commission of the Verkhovna Rada that in the years 2023–2024 the city authorities did not perceive such a level of threats to critical infrastructure.

KV learned this from the meeting of the Temporary Investigative Commission of the Verkhovna Rada on population safety and regional resilience.

At the Verkhovna Rada TIC meeting they also analyzed the capital’s budget expenditures on civil protection and preparing critical infrastructure for winter. They also discussed Kyiv’s spending on creating backup capacities. In particular, MP Oleksii Kucherenko asked Panteleiev whether the Kyiv City Council could have provided funds in the city budget in 2023 for additional equipment for backup power. The deputy estimated the approximate required amount at 50–60 million dollars. In response, Panteleiev said that the first budget funds for the respective program appeared only in 2025.

“The first funds for this program were allocated in 25. In 23–24 we did not have that level of threats,” explained KMDA Deputy Head Petro Panteleiev.

He said that it was in 2025 that financing began for creating a backup water supply system. At the same time, he noted that the issue of engineering protection of critical infrastructure remains separate. According to the deputy head of the KMDA, that direction began to be financed only in 2026.

“I won’t even mention the protection that is also necessary, which we also discussed with you. That issue was not financed; it only began to be financed this year,” Panteleiev said.

Also, at the TIC meeting they analyzed the capital’s budget expenditures on civil protection and preparing critical infrastructure for winter. According to the figures presented at the meeting, 34,3% of Kyiv’s development budget in 2026 was allocated to transport infrastructure, while 2,9% went to outfitting and repairing shelters.

They also discussed creating a backup heating supply system. The total projected capacity of such sources is about 2 100 MW, and work began on facilities with a combined capacity of about 1 600 MW.

In addition, during the discussion they raised the issue of 15,1 billion hryvnias in budgetary balances and the need to determine what portion of these funds could have been used to strengthen the city’s resilience.

Recall, as KV previously reported, Kyiv is continuing to create backup power for water supply systems. In early November Panteleiev said the city plans to commission additional power stations with a total capacity of about 40 MW. At the same time, the backup capacities already built for the water utility were estimated at approximately 16 MW.