Ukraine Interrupts Russian Gas Flowing to Europe by Shutting Down Pipeline

Gas prices in Europe jumped, but they leveled out after gas began flowing through an alternative route

Ukraine interrupted the flow of Russian gas by shutting down key pipelines that run through areas of Ukraine occupied by Russian troops.

“Ukraine no longer bears responsibility for the transmission of Russian gas through Ukrainian territories under Russian military occupation,” Ukraine’s state gas company Naftogaz said on Tuesday.

Ukraine halted the flow of gas through a border entry point in the east of the country that accounts for about a third of Russian gas exports to Europe that go through Ukrainian territory. Gas prices in Europe jumped on Wednesday morning after the announcement, but prices stabilized later in the day as the gas started flowing through alternative pipelines.

The incident highlights the fact that despite the war, Russian gas is still flowing through Ukrainian pipelines, and Ukraine is pocketing millions each month in transportation fees from Gazprom, Russia’s state-owned gas company.

Ukraine makes billions each year from transporting gas for Gazprom, a profit that will be reduced if the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline is ever complete. Nord Stream 2 would connect Russia and Germany, but the project was suspended by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz right before Russia invaded Ukraine.

Europe is still incredibly reliant on Russian energy, although the EU is trying to push through a phased ban on Russian oil that is facing opposition from Hungary. While it still makes profits from transiting Russian gas, Ukraine has been urging the EU to wean itself off Russian energy entirely.

Author: Dave DeCamp

Dave DeCamp is the news editor of Antiwar.com, follow him on Twitter @decampdave.