Ukraine cuts some Russian gas flow to Europe, threatening energy supply
- Ukraine’s operator blamed Moscow’s occupying forces for its move to stop sending fuel via Sokhranivka, one of two key entry points
- Russia supplied about 40 per cent of the European Union’s gas demand last year, and about a third of that was sent via Ukraine
Ukraine and Russia clashed over natural gas sent via pipelines to Europe in a dispute that could disrupt supplies from the former Soviet Union nation for the first time since the war started.
The Gas Transmission System Operator of Ukraine said Russian gas flowing via one of two key entry points will stop from Wednesday as occupying forces disrupt operations, according to a statement on its website.
The network manager said the fuel could still be rerouted to avoid a supply interruption. But Russian gas giant Gazprom PJSC said the switch is not possible because of how its system works.
Russia has been sending gas via Ukraine normally despite the conflict, but Kyiv had already warned Russia that the actions of its troops and occupiers in the Luhansk region of eastern Ukraine could end up halting about a third of the gas it exports to Europe.
Ukraine’s gas network manager said on Tuesday that it cannot meet its contractual obligations to receive Gazprom supplies via the Sokhranivka border point.
A Gazprom spokesman said the company was notified by Ukraine of the pending disruption, but did not receive any confirmation of force majeure.
