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REUTERS/Gleb Garanich
The construction of protective shelters around key energy infrastructure
facilities is being throttled due to a lack
of funding, Ukrainian MP Yaroslav Zhelezniak told NV on Sept. 21.
“Given the recent statements that funding for energy protection is being postponed until December — meaning preparations for winter are being delayed until the middle of winter — it does not appear that everything is stable in Kyiv and that we can afford to be distracted by forums,” Zhelezniak said.
He was commenting on the Carpathian Eight summit in Bukovel, attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, several Cabinet ministers and lawmakers.
Zhelezniak confirmed that Ukraine did not receive funding from its international partners on time because the Ukrainian parliament (Verkhovna Rada) has failed to pass legislation agreed upon with the European Union, including anti-corruption laws. According to Zhelezniak, Zelenskyy opposes the passage of the anti-corruption legislation.
Zhelezniak said that in the first half of 2026, when “everyone already knew there would be a hole in the budget” and understood that the war would be difficult, the authorities allocated UAH60 billion ($1.45 billion) to “completely irrelevant populism” that benefited neither the president’s approval rating nor the public or the economy.
“Now funding for capital expenditures is being halted,” the MP stated.
“Never mind the roads — funding for preparations to protect the energy sector is being halted. That means the first ballistic missile will destroy everything while it is still under construction, and we will have less electricity and, consequently, a smaller economy. Then the cycle of all these problems will continue.”
On Sept. 14, Prime Minister Sergii Koretskyi said Ukraine’s public finances were approaching a critical point and that delays in passing the necessary bills could jeopardize $29.5 billion in international assistance.
On Sept. 15, Suspilne public broadcaster reported
that European Commissioners Valdis Dombrovskis and Marta Kos had sent the Rada
a letter listing the bills Ukraine must pass to receive already approved EU
funding. The letter was sent in response to Ukraine’s request for an additional
$27 billion for defense.
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