Ukraine needs to change its approach to energy resources, as many Ukrainians still view electricity, gas, and heat as something that should "exist by default" – preferably for free.Nataliya Boyko, Deputy Chairwoman of the Supervisory Board of NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine and Head of the Center of Excellence in Government Relations (GR Center), spoke about the situation in Ukraine's energy sector and economy during the extraordinary session of the Kyiv Security Forum (KSF), organized by Arseniy Yatsenyuk "Open Ukraine" Foundation.

"It really bothers me when people talk about launching the heating season immediately just because they want to wear T-shirts at home. It's hard to reconcile morally when you hear morning reports about destroyed buildings and injured colleagues, and then hear that someone simply 'doesn’t want to freeze' in October, when it is still warm outside," Nataliya Boyko noted.

She emphasized that energy resources are not unlimited and that Ukrainians should develop a new culture of prudent energy consumption: "I have lived and worked in Germany, Great Britain, and Austria, and nowhere have I seen such an irresponsible attitude toward energy as we have here. Respect for resources must become a new social value – even a kind of 'religion'."

She paid particular attention to the role of local communities: "The stronger the community, the more actively citizens take responsibility – from cleaning the streets to organizing heat supply. We need a more engaged society, where everyone is not just a consumer but also an active participant in a shared cause."

In conclusion, Nataliya Boyko noted that power outage schedules are manageable if people prepare for them and learn to adapt.

"I hope we will get through this season without prolonged blackouts. But even under the most difficult conditions, a conscious approach to energy resources will help us endure," she commented.