Authorities must return funds confiscated from Kyiv for the construction of shelters and infrastructure protection – Poroshenko
Kyiv must be reimbursed for the funds confiscated from the municipal budget. This money is not from the central government, but from Kyiv residents. It is with this money that the city must build shelters, prepare for winter, ensure the autonomy of hospitals, schools, and critical infrastructure, and install backup heat and electricity sources.
Petro Poroshenko stated this at a meeting with the European Solidarity team in the Kyiv City Council.
“Five years into the major war in Ukraine, there are still no safe shelters for civilians. This is unacceptable. It’s a matter of life or death. That’s why, three years ago, in June 2023, the European Solidarity team introduced Bill No. 9358. It calls for systemic funding for the construction and repair of shelters across the country. Unfortunately, it has been deliberately ignored for three years now. Because it requires that work be done not just on paper, but systematically and efficiently,” he said.
“Today, after a sleepless night under fire, I met with the EU team in Kyiv to discuss how to finally force the authorities to allow the construction of real, reliable, high-quality shelters within walking distance for people. Because these savage barbarians will not stop terrorizing our cities. Because when ballistic missiles are flying, Kyiv residents don’t have 10-15 minutes. Often, they have one or two minutes. And if a shelter is somewhere far away, closed, unusable, or turned into a formality, it’s not shelter. It’s a mockery of people who live under the daily threat of death,” Poroshenko emphasized.
Kyiv City Council Deputy Leonid Yemets noted that Kyiv is facing a very difficult situation in its relations with the central government. “Kyiv is being systematically deprived of the resources we need, simply, as we see, to survive. Last night, like the nights before, showed that the shelter situation is, to put it mildly, far from ideal. Kyiv residents deserve decent conditions even in such difficult times and moments. There is a corresponding bill, No. 9358, registered by the European Solidarity faction. I simply ask that the faction convey a proposal, a demand, from Kyiv residents to parliament for this law to be passed. Because without it, we see that the issue is not being resolved,” he emphasized.
“We desperately need to return the funds that were taken from the Kyiv budget – 8 billion, 10 billion. In other words, a third of the city budget was simply taken away from Kyiv residents and their needs. We have repeatedly appealed to the Cabinet of Ministers regarding Kyiv City Council decisions, statements by our faction, and the Kyiv City Council members who supported us, that this money must be returned. But now the Cabinet is burdening Kyiv with a ‘Sustainability Plan’ with expenses that Kyiv is simply unable to meet without the return of these funds. Therefore, it is now a matter of survival,” the deputy emphasized.
Kyiv City Council Deputy Volodymyr Prokopov noted the importance of ensuring immediate access to shelters for city residents.
“Analyzing the last few attacks, we understand how significant the amount of ballistic missiles is, and we understand that while people previously had 10-15 minutes to reach shelter—in an area with no metro, it might have been the nearest school—now, from the warning to the arrival of ballistic missiles, it takes 1-3 minutes, which puts them within walking distance. And the city is precisely without government assistance, without appropriate regulations for such shelters, and without the tools to do so. Therefore, we need your help to ensure we have these tools,” he said.
Maryna Poroshenko, leader of the European Solidarity party in the Kyiv City Council, noted that the city’s medical facilities are currently preparing for the winter season.
“I want to say that we are currently actively working to ensure that all Kyiv hospitals have their own independent power supply, including electricity, heat, and water. These questions really need to be asked today, while it’s still warm outside. These questions really need to be asked today, and if we don’t implement this law now, we’ll enter winter unprepared,” she said.
Petro Poroshenko emphasized that funds for the construction of shelters are available.
“There is money for shelter construction. Kyiv must be reimbursed for the funds confiscated from the municipal budget. This isn’t the central government’s money. It’s Kyiv residents’ money. The city must use this money to build shelters, prepare for winter, ensure the autonomy of hospitals, schools, and critical infrastructure, and install backup heat and electricity sources,” he emphasized.
“Society must have resources. This was the essence of my decentralization program—the community must have the resources to fulfill the tasks assigned to it by law. The key point we’re making is number one: built, reliable, high-quality shelters within walking distance. We have no right to abandon Kyiv residents without a place where they can survive missile attacks. The same applies to residents of other cities,” he emphasized.
“We can’t understand why, since June 2023, three years ago, the Verkhovna Rada, while voting on all sorts of rubbish, hasn’t passed our law, which would ensure the protection of shelters for Ukrainians, and Kyiv residents in particular. Therefore, we will press hard to ensure this law is reviewed,” Poroshenko said.
“The authorities need to finally reach out to the people, understand their problems, and start resolving them. It’s absolutely unacceptable to me when a broken window in a school sits unrepaired for three to five months. It’s wrong. When hospitals and schools have shelters or shelters where people can’t get to, it’s wrong.”
“The number one priority today is to address the needs of specific people in Kyiv and the Kyiv region and ensure they are addressed quickly and effectively. Kyiv and other cities across the country are currently in mortal danger. The authorities have a duty to protect people. Action is needed immediately,” he emphasized.
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