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Ukrainians will now be allowed to move freely on the streets during curfew hours, but only for the purpose of reaching so-called “Points of Resilience.”
This was announced on Telegram by First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal.
Shmyhal explained that a state of emergency has been introduced in the energy sector due to Russia’s massive attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. The measure is intended to ensure maximum coordination among all services in the capital, regions, and local communities.
“As First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy, I have been entrusted with the authority to lead efforts to eliminate the consequences of this emergency,” Shmyhal said. According to him, a number of tasks have been defined jointly with the government.
In particular, the work of the headquarters responsible for responding to the energy emergency, as well as the headquarters dealing with disruptions in Kyiv and Kyiv region’s power systems, is being intensified. Initial meetings of both bodies have already taken place.
Rules for civilian movement during curfew hours are being changed. People will be allowed to move freely, including at night, in order to reach Points of Resilience.
The government has also recommended that the National Energy and Utilities Regulatory Commission (NEURC) urgently review and significantly simplify procedures for connecting backup power equipment to the grid. Approval of projects should take no more than two days, issuance of technical specifications another two days, and inspection and sealing of metering units also two days.
Reserve energy equipment will be redistributed among regions based on the critical needs of essential infrastructure. State-owned companies, primarily Ukrzaliznytsia and Naftogaz, have been instructed to urgently ensure the purchase of imported electricity during the 2025/26 heating season in volumes of at least 50% of total consumption.
Earlier, President Volodymyr Zelensky said that curfews could be lifted in some cities and communities due to the difficult situation caused by severe морозs and Russian strikes. He also confirmed that a state of emergency in the energy sector had been declared following attacks on energy facilities.
At the same time, Minister for Communities and Territories Development Oleksii Kuleba stressed that the curfew regime in Ukraine is not being canceled or broadly revised, though exceptions may be possible during prolonged outages of heat or electricity. Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko added that curfew restrictions may be eased in areas where a state of emergency in the energy sector has been introduced.
