Zelensky launches consultations on urgent fixes to Kyiv's energy resilience

President Volodymyr Zelensky said on 13 October that he has begun consultations on "urgent security and management steps" to fix Kyiv's energy and infrastructure resilience, after reports that the capital is doing worse than almost any other part of Ukraine in implementing its resilience plan.

In a post on Telegram, Zelensky said the issue was raised at a meeting of the Stavka, the country's top military command body, on 12 October. Officials reported on how city and regional "resilience plans" are being carried out. These are programmes through which local authorities prepare for attacks on energy and utilities, for example by buying equipment ahead of winter.

"Higher than in Kyiv"

According to Zelensky, as of mid-October implementation of such plans is higher than in Kyiv "in virtually the entire country, even in border and frontline regions". He added that Kyiv residents notice this themselves. "Even after single Shahed hits, there are power and water outages across a significant part of the capital," he said, referring to Russian-made attack drones.

His post did not name the city's mayor or any other Kyiv official, and it did not say who is responsible for the shortfall.

Who he consulted

Zelensky said he spoke with representatives of the security sector, business and local government. He named Vasyl Maliuk, Ivan Fedorov, Ihor Terekhov, Kostiantyn Yefymenko and Maksym Yefimov. The post does not give their current positions. Terekhov is widely known as the mayor of Kharkiv, a frontline city that has itself faced repeated strikes on its energy infrastructure.

"There are weighty proposals, and I am grateful for that," Zelensky wrote. He said further consultations and meetings are scheduled.

What is being prepared

The president said the aim is to speed up implementation of Kyiv's resilience plan and to "guarantee more support for people". He said decisions are being prepared on:

• protecting energy facilities and critical infrastructure in Kyiv;
• carrying out tasks together with the government and the military;
• addressing people's needs; and
• what he called a "rational change of the algorithms of managing Kyiv".

Zelensky did not explain that last phrase, and the post does not say whether it implies personnel or legal changes, or a shift in the powers of city authorities. No timeline or specific measures were announced.

"We need readiness to work as quickly as possible, respond to every security challenge and ensure that the decisions taken are carried out," he said. He also thanked communities and business leaders for their willingness to support the capital.

Context

Kyiv has seen repeated disruption in recent days. On 11 October, DTEK, the country's largest private energy company, reported emergency power cuts in four districts after a Russian attack, and Ukrainska Pravda reported that water pressure dropped on both banks of the city, with supply cut in some areas. Earlier this month, Kyiv's city military administration advised residents to stock up on water and food in case of prolonged outages, describing it as a preparedness advisory rather than an evacuation order.

Separately, the government has unblocked financing for regional resilience plans ahead of winter, with Finance Minister Serhii Marchenko saying he expects regional leaders to deliver on time.

The post is Zelensky's own account of the consultations. Kyiv city authorities had not responded in the material available at the time of writing, and the claims about comparative implementation rates were not accompanied by figures.