Energy crisis looms as Russia escalates attacks on Ukraine's gas assets

Russia has escalated its targeting of Ukraine's gas infrastructure, forcing the country to increase imports and urging conservation measures as winter heating demand approaches, the CEO of state-owned energy company Naftogaz said Oct. 16.

"Last night [Oct. 15], Russia once again launched a massive attack on gas infrastructure," Serhiy Koretsky said in a statement. "This massive attack on gas facilities is already the sixth since the beginning of October alone. This directly affects the volume of our gas production, which we are forced to cover through imports."

The repeated strikes on critical energy facilities come at a particularly vulnerable time for Ukraine's energy security, as the country prepares for peak winter consumption while struggling with reduced domestic production capacity.

"I am addressing everyone to use gas as sparingly as possible. Today, every cubic meter saved counts," Koretsky said.

The damage to Ukraine's gas production facilities is creating significant challenges for the country's energy security. Naftogaz, which manages much of Ukraine's gas production and distribution, faces the difficult task of securing alternative supplies as domestic output falters.

In a statement on Oct. 16, the UK government condemned Russia's deliberate strategy of targeting civilian energy assets ahead of the coldest months.

"Russia has once again weaponized winter... " said Neil Holland, head of UK delegation to the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe. "Restoring this capacity is both challenging and expensive, often taking many months to repair and increasing the need for gas imports over winter."

The escalation is forcing Ukraine to import more energy this winter. On Oct. 7, Ukraine's energy minister Svitlana Grynchuk said the country would need to increase gas imports by around 30% this winter as the country scrambles to secure adequate supplies following sustained Russian attacks on its gas infrastructure.