In recent months, there have been heating breakdowns in 16 locations across russia. These breakdowns amidst sub-freezing temperatures are an expansion of an existing problem that has plagued russian cities and towns for decades, but has likely become more acute due to russian wartime policies, the UK Defense Intelligence reports.
Russia has routinely prioritized military spending over re-investment in general public infrastructure, especially since their invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Many regional governments have been asked to take on the burden of operating with less federal revenue and have been asked to fund local volunteer forces, which has likely stretched their budgets and necessitated some cuts to maintenance spending. Additionally, mobilization has likely led to a workforce shortage across all industries including qualified heating engineers and plumbers.
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Putin has asked the Minister of Emergency Situations, Aleksandr Kurenkov, to ensure the supply of heating and electricity to residents. Appearing to tackle this issue is likely a key concern for Putin ahead of the forthcoming russian presidential elections.
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