Russia's nighttime attack on Ukraine's gas production facilities in the Poltava region has once again sounded the alarm for the energy supply of this country. According to the state-owned oil and gas company of Ukraine, Naftogaz, this attack has damaged the gas production facilities in Poltava, but fortunately, no human casualties have been reported.
Immediate Effects of the Attack
Naftogaz stated that it will take all necessary measures to stabilize the gas supply situation in the Poltava region. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Air Force also confirmed that Russia used 19 cruise, ballistic, and guided missiles in this attack. Local officials reported that nine residential areas in the Myrhorod region have been left without gas.
It seems that Russia has intensified its attacks on Ukraine's gas storage and production facilities in recent months. While Ukraine's gas storage facilities are mostly located in the west of the country, the main production capacities are in the east, including in the Poltava and Kharkiv regions.
Challenges of Gas Supply in Winter
The state gas company of Ukraine has predicted that the country may increase its natural gas imports to over 16.7 million cubic meters per day. Currently, Ukraine consumes between 110 to 140 million cubic meters of gas daily during the winter, which is almost equally supplied by domestic production and reserves. However, according to the former head of Ukraine's gas transmission system, the existing reserves have approached critical levels, significantly reducing the ability to meet daily needs.
Decreased gas production and problems arising from extraction from empty storage facilities may force Kyiv to increase its import volumes. Reports indicate that Ukraine is planning to import 7.6 million cubic meters from Hungary, 7.3 million cubic meters from Slovakia, and 1.8 million cubic meters from Poland.
