President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy instructed regional state administrations, Kyiv City State Administration and local governments to approve plans to ensure the security and sustainability of critical infrastructure that ensures the livelihoods of territorial communities, including strengthening their protection from physical and cyber threats.

The order was enshrined in President's Decree No. 737/2023 dated November 7, 2023, which put into effect the decision of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine dated the same date "On additional measures to strengthen the sustainability of the energy system and prepare the national economy for the autumn-winter season period 2023/2024."

Regional state administrations were also instructed to handle issues of attracting resources from territorial communities to overcome crisis situations in the energy sector and ensure the preparation of connection points for critical infrastructure facilities that perform vital functions for cases of using backup energy supply schemes.

In addition, local authorities shall analyze the potential and resources of the regions to maximize the use and production (extraction) of alternative fuels to get through the autumn-winter period, as well as update regional strategies and development programs to increase the use of separate generation, alternative energy sources and improve energy efficiency and provide adequate funding.

It was also instructed to study the issue of installing autonomous lighting systems for pedestrian crossings and power supply for traffic lights and make changes to the relevant regional strategies and development programs.

The president also ordered an assessment of the energy potential of local water resources and its implementation to create alternative generation facilities with a distributed structure, in particular, the resources of the Tysa, Teresva and Dniester rivers.

Approval of plans shall be organized within one month, the decree says.