Razumkov: Responsibility for winter preparations and protecting the energy sector lies with the central government
2 February 14:30
YOUTUBE
Issues related to preparing for the heating season, protecting energy infrastructure, and the consequences of attacks on combined heat and power plants fall under the responsibility of the central government and cannot be left solely to local authorities. At the same time, getting through the winter effectively is only possible through coordinated efforts across all levels of government.
This position was expressed in an interview with the YouTube channel
Commenting on discussions regarding mayors’ responsibility for the lack of heat, electricity, and water in certain cities, Razumkov emphasized that the issues of protecting critical infrastructure and general preparation for the heating season are systemic in nature and go beyond the scope of local authorities’ powers.
According to him, even before the full-scale invasion, Kyiv had a shortage of energy capacity, but over the years of the war, this problem has not been comprehensively resolved.
“Please tell me, is it the local government’s responsibility to ensure the protection of critical infrastructure facilities?
Preparing for winter. Kyiv had an energy deficit even before the war. During this period of the war, no additional cogeneration plants were installed. What is a cogeneration plant? It is a gas-fired plant that generates both heat and electricity… It can be placed underground and protected quite well. But no one has done this,” Razumkov noted.
The politician emphasized that the key responsibility for the stability and preservation of the state’s power grid lies with the relevant central government agencies.
“The key entities responsible for ensuring the security and preservation of the power grid are the Ministry of Energy and the Cabinet of Ministers,” he emphasized.
Separately, Razumkov drew attention to the complexity and fragmentation of management in the energy security sector, which, in his words, complicates the adoption and implementation of effective decisions.
At the same time, the former speaker stressed that he does not absolve local authorities of responsibility, acknowledging that there are problems at this level as well, but considers it incorrect to place blame unilaterally.
“I am not defending the city government. Objectively speaking, there are reasons to criticize them,” he noted.
Razumkov also reminded that a military administration is operating in the capital, which is part of the overall city management system under martial law.
In his view, the conflict between different levels of government negatively impacts the state’s ability to effectively respond to wartime challenges.
“Today, this conflict between central and local authorities is only making the situation worse,” the politician concluded.
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The capital’s mayor, Vitali Klitschko, then publicly responded to the president’s statement, emphasizing that the criticism “undermines the dedicated work of thousands of specialists” who are working to address the consequences of Russian attacks.
