Lviv is continuing systematic preparations for the heating season and for possible emergencies linked to Russian aggression. The city is implementing an approved Resilience Plan, which covers 96 projects to protect critical infrastructure, provide backup power and introduce additional heat and water generation. According to Lviv City Council, more than 52% of the planned measures have already been completed to date.
The First Deputy Mayor of Lviv, Andriy Moskalenko, recalled that the municipal Resilience Plan was approved at a council session in March this year. Some of the measures have been coordinated with the regional and national plans for preparing to operate in potential emergency conditions.
According to the official, all initiatives have been broadly divided into three main areas. The first concerns strengthening the protection of critically important facilities, in particular the construction of second-level protective structures. The second block provides for additional generation capacity for the heating and water supply systems. The third area focuses on creating backup power sources, including the installation of cogeneration units and solid-fuel boilers.
More than UAH 3 billion is needed to implement these projects. The city is securing part of the funds through loans from state-owned banks and international support. Lviv is implementing individual projects jointly with the European Investment Bank, the governments of Germany and Norway, and other foreign partners. Measures included in the national Resilience Plan receive additional funding from the state.
One of the key elements of the preparations is the development of a network of alternative heat sources. At present, the city has around 30 solid-fuel boiler houses operating on wood and pellets. In addition, Lviv is procuring roughly 60 more such boiler houses.
The plan is to locate the new units primarily in schools so that, in the event of worst-case scenarios, these institutions can function as heating points for pupils and residents. The City Council notes that the system is being expanded so that it covers all districts of Lviv.
Particular emphasis is being placed on medical facilities. For the UNBROKEN Centre, additional water supply and backup resource provision are being put in place so that, in the event of infrastructure disruptions, it can continue to operate.
From next week, inspections of the housing stock's readiness for winter will begin in Lviv. City representatives plan to visit buildings, speak with residents and with the heads of condominium associations (OSBB) and municipal management companies (LKP) about the condition of buildings and actions in the event of an emergency. In every building, a responsible contact person must be designated, essential supplies ensured, and a logistics plan for action in the event of a crisis clearly set out.
Andriy Moskalenko also drew attention to issues which, in his view, need to be resolved at national level. The first is the deferral from mobilisation of employees of critical infrastructure enterprises. Because of limited possibilities to grant such deferrals, municipal enterprises, including Lvivteploenergo and Lvivvodokanal, are losing skilled staff who are moving to organisations whose personnel are fully protected from mobilisation.
The second issue concerns Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 1512 on price offers. According to the official, current procedures make it more difficult to adjust projects promptly and may slow down the delivery of critically important works on the eve of the heating season.
“We have asked the government to review these procedures, at least for projects that must be implemented before the start of the heating season,” Andriy Moskalenko concluded.
He also stressed that preparing for winter is a shared responsibility of the city and its residents. Lviv residents are being urged to make basic preparations in advance, know the plan of action and contact persons in their building, and be ready to help those who will not be able to cope on their own in difficult conditions.