MOSCOW, October 7 – RIA Novosti, Mikhail Katkov. Every autumn, the Ukrainian media traditionally talk about how hard it is to survive the winter. This year was no exception, but now the situation is much worse. What January frosts will bring to Ukraine – in the material of RIA Novosti.

The European Center for Mid-Range Weather Forecasts predicts a cold winter. In this case, there will be no strong wind. According to the Financial Times, therefore, the West may be deprived of much-needed additional energy resources in the face of gas shortages.

However, the Ukrhydrometeorological center is trying to reassure the population, arguing that severe cold will bypass the republic – the heating season will decrease.

True, in Kyiv schools they have already decided to cancel the October holidays and increase the winter – January holidays in order to save on heating. At the same time, the norm of air temperature at the premises was reduced to 17 degrees.

According to the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology, only 24% of Ukrainians think that their housing is completely protected from frost. Another 47% – partially. The hardest thing is in the east of the country – only 12% of respondents are not afraid of the cold there. In addition, village and village residents feel more secure than the townspeople.

Daniil Getmantsev, head of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Finance, Tax and Customs Policy, said that 2.2 million cubic meters of coal and seven million cubic meters of firewood were prepared for the winter “just in case”. In addition, the United States promised two billion cubic meters of gas. A total of 19 billion is needed. Just over 13 in stock so far.

People in the areas are asked to close the windows, stock up on firewood, warm clothes and blankets, and buy electric heaters, chargers, flashlights and candles. Even representatives of the state enterprise Ukraine Now advised to consider buying a diesel generator and buying a stove.

Lviv Mayor Andrey Sadovoy recorded a five-minute video about the approaching harsh winter. He hopes for firewood and potbelly stoves. “This is the only thing left if there is no one else,” the mayor said.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also believes that a harsh winter awaits Ukraine, but the West will help to overcome it and the Ukrainians will “hold their dominance”. At the same time, he noted that the Armed Forces of Ukraine have already been transferred from the Soviet to NATO weapons standards.

In the summer, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine turned to the Western allies with a request to provide the army with winter uniforms and equipment. We’re talking about clothing and tents for 200,000 soldiers. The USA, Canada, Sweden and Finland will meet demand in half. It is not clear where to look for the rest.

According to some Ukrainian soldiers, they have not yet received winter uniforms. One of the officers admitted to the Strana broadcast: his colleagues are insulating themselves because it’s already pretty cold at night. Another fighter was given a winter uniform in the summer, but lost it during the retreat. According to the documents, the state provided him with everything necessary, so now the soldier relies only on volunteers.

Ukrainians will have to spend almost all of their income on heating in winter, says Vladimir Olenchenko, senior researcher at the IMEMO RAS Center for European Studies. “Rural residents will be saved by agriculture, but industry will lose their goods because they cannot afford them. Townspeople are also at risk of facing a rapid rise in food prices,” says the expert.

They could not find a solution to these problems in Kiev. Authorities rely on the West to provide for all their needs.

As for the army, despite the complaints of the military, experts interviewed by RIA Novosti believe that the troops will provide in full. The West is very interested in this. “The Ukrainian equipment is quite high quality. Some were brought from abroad, but berets, for example, have their own production,” says political scientist Oleksandr Dudchak.

However, the authorities will only deal with the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the civilian population will be left alone. “Even before special operations, the civilian infrastructure was extremely worn out. The situation will worsen this winter. But Kyiv prefers to spend money on a new batch of ammunition rather than replacing pipes,” the expert said.

Political scientist Rostislav Ishchenko said that the West will do everything to ensure that the Ukrainian Armed Forces have tents, potbelly stoves and fuel, and that no one is interested in the problems of civilians. “If Kyiv still has enough fuel to put the tanks on the offensive, there is no doubt that the Ukrainian army will survive the winter,” he emphasizes.

Regarding the rest, there is no such certainty, the expert clarifies. However, under the current political regime in Ukraine, hardly anyone dares to protest.