Who faces seizure of property for heating debts in Kyiv: explanation
20 May 18:23
In Kyiv, the accumulation of debts for heating and hot water services has reached a critical level. This statement was made by Konstantin Lopatin, director of the Energosbut JV of Kyivteploenergo, at a press briefing on May 20, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
As of May 2025, the total debt of the capital’s residents to Kyivteploenergo exceeded UAH 7 billion, of which UAH 4.1 billion was for heating and UAH 2.9 billion was for hot water.
According to Konstantin Lopatin, the real cost of heat supply services is 50% higher than the current tariffs. This creates financial difficulties for the company, especially in the face of significant debt.
More than 150,000 consumers, which is about 15% of the total, have accumulated more than 63% of this debt. Most of them are owners of luxury housing, several apartments or large apartments who neglect to pay for utilities,” said Lopatin.
“Starting in 2024, systemic defaulters will be subject to a penalty of 0.01% for each day of delay. Currently, Kyivteploenergo is considering more than 5,000 lawsuits to recover the debt. In the event of a court decision, debtors may face property seizure and additional costs, which will increase the total debt by 15-25%.
The company’s representatives urged residents with debts to seek resolution of the situation, in particular by entering into debt restructuring agreements. This will help avoid additional financial sanctions and legal costs.
Kyiv residents can apply for debt restructuring by contacting the Utility Service Center in person or online. The conclusion of the relevant agreement will allow the debt to be paid in installments without additional charges.
Kyivteploenergo emphasized that timely payment of utility bills is a key to the stable functioning of heat supply in the city. The accumulation of debts not only complicates the work of the company, but can also lead to serious consequences for the debtors themselves.
Read also: In Kyiv, owners of luxury real estate and large apartments owe the most for heating
Kyiv is preparing for the 2026 heating season: challenges, tariffs and forecasts
The capital of Ukraine is actively preparing for the heating season 2025-2026, which will start in mid-October. The exact start date will depend on weather conditions, in particular, on the average daily air temperature. First of all, heating will be switched on in social institutions: schools, kindergartens and hospitals.
Preparations for the season and the state of gas reserves
The Ministry of Energy of Ukraine started preparing for the autumn-winter period immediately after the end of the previous heating season. Special attention is being paid to restoring generation and repairing equipment at power plants and other facilities. The Anti-Crisis Energy Headquarters is coordinating all preparations to minimize possible power shortages and meet the heating needs of the population.
However, experts warn of possible difficulties. As of May 2025, Ukraine’s gas storage facilities contain 6.02 billion cubic meters of gas, the lowest level in 11 years. An additional 6.3 billion cubic meters of gas will need to be pumped in, partly through imports, to ensure a successful heating season.
Heating and gas tariffs
In 2025, tariffs for gas, heating and hot water will remain unchanged.
The city authorities assured that heat and hot water tariffs for households will remain at the level of the previous year. In particular, Kyiv residents living in buildings with centralized heating will be eligible for state subsidies and compensation if their consumption is energy efficient.
However, starting from 2026, they may gradually increase due to the situation in the energy sector and the need to bring tariffs to economically justified levels.
Challenges and dangers remain relevant
Given the threat of repeated attacks by Russia, Kyiv has established operational response headquarters at the Kyiv City State Administration, which will be responsible for coordinating actions in the event of heat outages. Residents are also encouraged to insulate their homes and check the performance of individual heaters.
Meanwhile, a member of the Parliamentary Committee on Energy and Housing and Communal Services and MP Serhiy Nagornyak warned that part of Ukraine could be left without gas in winter.
According to him, since the end of 2024, Russia has changed its tactics, focusing its attacks on gas production and gas treatment facilities. This led to significant damage, the restoration of which can take from 6 to 36 months and require significant financial resources. At the same time, the enemy deliberately attacks facilities that are difficult to restore quickly, such as compressor stations and gas processing plants.
Nahorniak emphasizes that even the presence of gas in underground storage facilities does not guarantee uninterrupted supply, as the gas infrastructure is mostly located on the surface and is vulnerable to missile attacks.
He calls on the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) to develop a clear action plan in case of large-scale damage to the gas distribution system in winter.
According to him, it is not only a matter of technical support, but also the need to adopt emergency regional scenarios, including alternative heat supply.
Sergiy Nagornyak emphasized that if Russia does not stop its attacks in the summer, there is a real risk that part of Ukraine will be left without gas in the winter. It is necessary to take measures now to protect the infrastructure, increase domestic production and create strategic reserves.
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