In a significant escalation of attacks despite US peace efforts, Russia targeted a crucial gas compressor station in eastern Ukraine, impacting gas storage for the upcoming winter heating season, according to a Reuters report.
Ukraine is grappling with a severe gas shortage, a crisis significantly exacerbated by sustained Russian missile strikes throughout the year that have crippled domestic production capabilities.
In recent weeks, the situation has worsened as Russia intensified its attacks on critical Ukrainian gas production and import infrastructure.
Escalation
These escalating assaults have occurred despite diplomatic efforts by US President Donald Trump, who has actively sought to de-escalate and ultimately end the ongoing conflict.
The targeting of energy infrastructure underscores a broader strategy to destabilise Ukraine and weaken its resilience, particularly as winter approaches and the demand for natural gas increases.
The impact of these strikes extends beyond mere energy supply, affecting the everyday lives of Ukrainian citizens and posing a significant challenge to the country’s economic stability and its ability to maintain essential services.
Since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than three years ago, Russia has consistently denied targeting civilians, despite widespread international condemnation and evidence to the contrary from human rights organisations and independent observers.
While Kyiv and its Western allies accuse Moscow of war crimes and indiscriminate attacks on civilian areas, Russia maintains that its military operations are aimed solely at legitimate military targets.
Strategic targets
However, Russia has openly stated that it considers Ukraine’s energy systems and other critical infrastructure to be legitimate targets.
This rationale is predicated on the belief that these systems directly contribute to Ukraine’s war effort, providing power for military installations, logistical operations, and the overall functioning of the state during wartime.
Attacks on these facilities, often carried out with missiles and drones, have led to widespread power outages, disruptions in heating and water supplies, and significant humanitarian challenges, particularly during the colder months.
These strikes are framed by Moscow as strategic actions designed to weaken Ukraine’s military capabilities and its capacity to resist the ongoing invasion.
Russian forces attacked a compressor station, which, according to a source quoted in the report, is vital for transporting natural gas from eastern Ukrainian fields to western storage facilities.
This gas is stored for winter heating.
One of Ukraine’s gas infrastructure facilities was hit by a Russian attack overnight, the Ukrainian energy ministry reported, adding that the extent of the damage was currently being assessed.
Overnight, the Russian defence ministry reported that its forces had conducted strikes on various targets, including Ukrainian energy infrastructure.
Ukraine’s gas supply challenges and responses
Ukraine plans to import approximately 21 million cubic meters of gas on Thursday, primarily for storage facilities. This increase in gas imports is consistent with the country’s activities this year, according to the gas system operator.
As summer consumption decreases, the majority of domestically produced gas is being directed into reserves.
A Russian overnight attack on Tuesday ignited large fires at energy facilities in Ukraine’s central Poltava region, according to the Ukrainian energy ministry.
Russia attacked a gas pumping station in Ukraine’s southern Odesa region earlier this month. This station is used for importing LNG from the US and Azerbaijan.
Almost daily drone attacks by Ukraine on Russian oil refineries and pipelines have caused fuel shortages in several Russian regions. These attacks come in response to months of similar assaults.
Ukraine, which had depended on Russian gas for decades, began importing gas from Western countries in 2015. This shift occurred a year after Russia’s annexation of Crimea and its support for armed separatists in eastern Ukraine.
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