How the Shostka Community is Preparing for the Hardest Winter

The head of the community, Mykola Noha, in the "Voice of the Community" program spoke about how the border region is restructuring its heating system, looking for alternative energy sources, and creating its own security network.

Due to constant attacks on critical infrastructure, electricity is supplied to the community unevenly. In order to provide residents with heat during the winter period, the community authorities are making decisions on restructuring heat supply.

“The situation can escalate significantly in this direction. We are working on restructuring the heat supply system, increasing the number of boiler houses — it will be increased several times. And the main boiler houses will work on fuel: this is firewood, pellets, wood chips, that is, on biofuel. We are working on this and think that it will be difficult, but we must endure, we must survive in such difficult conditions,” Mykola Noha emphasized.

The issue of alternative energy remains critical for the border region. According to the mayor, it is still too early to talk about full equipment provision for the community.

“There can never be enough generators and solar stations. There will be enough solar stations when every apartment, every house has a solar station, when every apartment, every house has a generator. But we are still far from this. And therefore, we are working with partners, they are helping us in this direction, and we will count on strengthening this work,” the head of the community emphasized.

Psychological resilience of residents and security conditions have become another key area of preparation. Due to the use of high-speed missiles and drones by the enemy, there is almost no time to move to remote shelters, so the authorities are helping residents equip safe places directly in buildings.

“It is extremely important to show psychological resilience. We have a total number of heating points and resilience points of about 100, which is a significant number — a little less than half of the entire Sumy region. But indeed, they need to be increased. We have such a program when we help residents create safe living and stay conditions in their basements: we help install generators, burzhuykas (wood-burning stoves) there. We are working on bringing shelter objects closer to people,” Mykola Noha said.

«Joint work and mutual assistance take place in order to survive in such difficult conditions. It is no easier in Kharkiv than it is with us; it is also extremely difficult in Kharkiv. But the resilience of the residents of Kharkiv amazes all of Ukraine. And I thank you for your courage».

Watch the full recording of the "Voice of the Community" program on YouTube.