Preparations in Kyiv and other cities for winter are facing the challenge of a lack of funding, as the Treasury has halted spending on non-critical needs. The city has taken out a bank loan to implement the Resilience Plan; the funds have been credited to the State Treasury account, but have not yet been released.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said this at an event organised by LB and EFI Group. He explained that contractors, including Autostrada, which is installing backup power systems for residential buildings, are working at their own expense. The city is also currently unable to pay for work on building a duplicate heating system.
“Kyiv has borrowed from banks. The money has been credited to the Treasury’s accounts, but for a month the Treasury has not released it,” he said.
Klitschko explained that the city has moved away from advance payments and now requires every contractor to carry out work using their own funds. Certificates of completed work must pass state expert review, and only after that does Kyiv pay for the work carried out.
Klitschko thanked the contractors who trust the city.
The mayor also commented on criticism of the city’s decision to complete construction of the Podilsko-Voskresensky Bridge. He noted that now, when the enemy is deliberately striking the city’s bridges, it is critically important to have more routes. The same applies to the metro, whose construction is ongoing: in addition to serving as the city’s main transport artery, it also provides protection for Kyiv residents during air-raid alerts.
- In September, Autostrada said they planned to begin work on installing backup power in Kyiv’s high-rise residential buildings only after receiving an advance payment. Autostrada won tenders to install backup power in seven of the city’s ten districts.