Russian natural gas exports to Europe through Soviet-era pipelines via Ukraine were halted on New Year’s Day after a transit deal expired, with Moscow and Kyiv unable to agree on terms to resume the flow.
The shutdown of Russia’s oldest gas route to Europe marks the end of a decade of tense relations, which began with Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014. Ukraine ceased purchasing Russian gas the following year.
“We stopped the transit of Russian gas. This is a historic event. Russia is losing its markets, it will suffer financial losses. Europe has already made the decision to abandon Russian gas,” Ukraine’s Energy Minister German Galushchenko said in a statement.
The gas flow stoppage was anticipated due to the ongoing war, which began in February 2022. Ukraine had been firm in its decision not to extend the deal amid the military conflict.
According to an industry source, Gazprom anticipated the cessation of gas transit through Ukraine last year, which had accounted for about half of Russia’s total pipeline gas exports to Europe.
Russia continues to export gas via the TurkStream pipeline, which runs under the Black Sea. TurkStream consists of two lines: one serving the Turkish domestic market and the other supplying central European countries, including Hungary and Serbia.
After the outbreak of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, the European Union intensified efforts to reduce its reliance on Russian energy by exploring alternative sources.
Countries like Slovakia and Austria, which still received Russian gas through Ukraine, also arranged for alternative energy supplies to ensure stability and comply with EU sanctions.
There were no immediate responses from Europe in the early hours of Wednesday.
The five-year gas transit agreement between Russia and Ukraine expired on January 1.
“Due to the repeated and clearly expressed refusal of the Ukrainian side to renew these agreements, Gazprom was deprived of the technical and legal ability to supply gas for transit through the territory of Ukraine from January 1, 2025,” Gazprom said in a statement on the Telegram messaging app.
“Starting from 08:00 Moscow time , the supply of Russian gas for its transportation through the territory of Ukraine is not carried out.”
Ukraine’s energy ministry also said the transportation of Russian gas through Ukraine “has been stopped in the interests of national security”.
