For four years, politicians insisted that roads were not a priority. Now they are — but it may already be too late. What can be done? An interview by Babel with Autostrada CEO Maksym Shkil

In March 2026, the issue of deteriorating roads — once активно discussed mainly on social media — was simultaneously raised by the president, the prime minister, and the head of the State Agency for Restoration and Infrastructure Development, Serhii Sukhomlyn. The overall conclusion: the road situation is critical, yet there is no funding for high-quality repairs.

An estimated UAH 52 billion is needed even for basic patchwork repairs: UAH 12.6 billion will come from the Ministry of Development’s state budget program, and another UAH 10 billion from the reserve fund. The Ministry of Defense is expected to assist with repairs in frontline regions. Key highways are slated for urgent patching within a few months — by June 1.

Will these repairs withstand the next winter? Who is responsible for the rising cost of road maintenance? Have the roads built under the “Big Construction” program deteriorated beyond recovery? And why did efforts to protect the energy sector from missile attacks fall short? These questions are addressed in a major interview with Maksym Shkil, founder and CEO of the Autostrada Group.