Ukraine’s gas production drops 40% after Russian missile strikes – Reuters
Photo: Ukraine reduced gas production due to Russian missile strikes (Getty Images)
Gas production in Ukraine has fallen by 40% after Russian missile strikes. As a result, Ukraine plans to import up to 800 million cubic meters of gas from Europe in February and March to compensate for the decline in production, Reuters reports.
"We could do without imports this heating season, but the attacks on production are forcing us to import gas to compensate for this reduction in domestic production," an anonymous source told the news agency.
Since the 2022 invasion, Russia has repeatedly targeted Ukraine’s energy sector with missile and drone attacks. However, in recent weeks, it has intensified strikes on gas fields.
Ukrainian state gas firm Naftogaz and major private energy company DTEK stated that in February, Russia attacked and damaged their facilities at least twice.
Before the strikes, Ukraine produced around 52 million cubic meters of gas per day, while winter consumption ranged from 110 to 140 million cubic meters per day. The deficit was covered by underground gas storage.
Ukraine’s gas transmission system operator reported that the country began increasing gas imports in early February. Since then, import volumes have surged nearly tenfold, exceeding 20 million cubic meters per day.
Officials and sources did not disclose the current level of gas production. Ukraine primarily uses gas for heating homes and household needs.
Ukraine’s major gas production facilities are highly vulnerable to Russian attacks, as they are located in the frontline Kharkiv region and the neighboring Poltava region.
A source revealed that while Ukraine’s gas reserves are limited, the planned imports and domestic production should allow the country to make it through the heating season (which typically lasts from late October to April) without imposing restrictions on industries or households.
The source said that Ukraine needs to start pumping gas for the 2025/26 winter season in the spring, as well as accumulate about 13 billion cubic meters of gas. At the beginning of the current season, Ukraine had 12.9 billion cubic meters of gas in its storage facilities.
The source also noted that it is not yet clear how much gas can be imported after March, as this will depend on the level of local production, which will be directly affected by the intensity of Russian missile strikes.
As previously reported, the cost of gas in Europe is currently about $525 per thousand cubic meters. Thus, 800 million cubic meters will cost Ukraine about $420 million.
