Residents of the temporarily occupied territories were charged 100 billion hryvnias in utility debts, — expert

Residents of the temporarily occupied territories were charged 100 billion hryvnias in utility debts, — expert

The head of the Union of Utility Consumers, Oleh Popenko, claims that residents of the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine have accumulated over 100 billion UAH in utility debts over the three years of the war.

He stated this on the air of Novyny.Live on April 18.

Journalists reminded that a draft law has been registered in the Verkhovna Rada, which cancels the accrual of utility payments for damaged and destroyed housing due to Russian aggression. This was reported by co-author of the draft law, member of the parliamentary commission on the protection of internally displaced persons, Maksym Tkachenko, to Ukrinform on April 15. According to the member of parliament, more than 3 million citizens currently have such housing. Tkachenko explained that the basis for suspending payment accrual will be the acts of commission inspections.

The host asked the expert why he thought this draft law was only developed now. Oleh Popenko replied that he considers it a "PR move" by politicians ahead of the potential end of the war and possible elections in Ukraine.

"And what about the 100 billion debts that people were charged from 2022 to 2025? Those in occupation. Imagine: Mariupol, Melitopol — people were receiving utility bills until mid-2024. Mariupol was captured by the occupiers in April 2022 — but people were receiving bills in 2024," noted the head of the Union of Utility Consumers.

According to him, utility companies may continue to receive funds from consumers, despite the inability to provide services.

"Dozens, hundreds of companies have been registered. Everything is paid from the budget," Oleh Popenko emphasized, mentioning the significantly destroyed budget of the Russian-affected Pokrovsk for 2025, which includes expenses for "imaginary" heat supply and urban improvement.