In the context of energy supply shortages, the Ukrainian government is enhancing cooperation with food producers to avoid disruptions in food supply for the population. This was announced by Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko after a meeting with representatives of relevant associations.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Measures for Stable Food Supply
The Prime Minister instructed the State Emergency Service to promptly consider providing assistance with short-term electricity supply for enterprises producing essential food items in the event of sudden power outages. Additionally, the Ministry of Energy and the National Energy and Utilities Regulatory Commission (NEURC) must ensure the connection and activation of generating units already available to food producers but not yet utilized. The Prime Minister emphasized that the government has made all necessary decisions for this purpose.
“I instructed the State Emergency Service to urgently work on the possibility of providing assistance in short-term power supply for enterprises producing basic food items in case of sudden outages. The Ministry of Energy and NEURC must promptly ensure the connection and activation of generating units available to food producers that have not yet been launched. The government has made all necessary decisions for this,” she noted.
Yulia Svyrydenko also reported that the State Emergency Service will strengthen coordination with industry enterprises in the regions to create operational food reserves in case there is a need to deploy food distribution points.
The Situation After Mass Attacks by Russia
The Prime Minister urged retail chains to prioritize Ukrainian food products, as this is a matter of economic resilience. The Ministry of Economy has been tasked with developing additional support measures for producers. According to her, food supplies in Ukraine are currently sufficient, and production capacities exceed domestic demand, so the situation remains under control.
On the night of January 20, Russian forces launched a massive attack on Ukraine, using one Zircon anti-ship missile, 18 ballistic missiles, and 15 cruise missiles, as well as 339 strike drones, of which about 250 were Shahed drones. The main strike was directed at the Kyiv region.
In Kyiv, one person was injured due to the attack, and there were disruptions in electricity and water supply on the left bank of the city. Following the latest attack, over 5,600 apartment buildings were left without heating, most of which had already restored heating after a previous strike on January 9.
In the Vinnytsia region, a hit on a critical infrastructure facility was recorded, and in the Odesa region, local authorities reported damage to an energy facility. In Poltava region, a strike was carried out on an industrial enterprise.
Russian military forces are continuously attacking Ukrainian regions with various types of weapons, including kamikaze drones, missiles, guided aerial bombs, and multiple launch rocket systems. The leadership of Russia denies that the Russian army deliberately targets civilian infrastructure; however, Ukrainian authorities and international organizations classify such actions as war crimes that are deliberate in nature.