“The government has been tasked to immediately introduce a program to encourage the installation of solar energy production and energy storage systems in Ukraine,” Zelensky said in his daily video address on Thursday.

According to the scheme, citizens who install solar panels will be able to get interest free loans.

The President said that measures had been taken to protect energy facilities from ongoing attacks by Russia and that specific deadlines had been set for the completion of protective structures.

Zelensky promised to create more facilities for decentralized energy supply to ensure that administration and critical infrastructure buildings have alternative energy sources during power outages.

Ukraine has been defending itself against a full-scale Russian invasion for more than two years.

Official figures show that about half of Ukraine's energy production capacity has been lost due to systematic Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities with drones and missiles.

With concerns that the situation would worsen in winter, strict energy rationing and daily power cuts have been imposed.



int/khz