The sanctions imposed by the Russian authorities on certain foreign energy companies have constrained Gazprom from using the EuRoPol GAZ gas pipeline, a joint venture with Polish PGNiG, to deliver gas to European consumers via Poland. Gazprom’s official spokesperson, Sergey Kupriyanov, confirmed this limitation, as reported by the holding company’s Telegram channel.
Payments and transactions in favor of sanctioned entities were prohibited as part of the measures.
Earlier, the Russian government approved a list of foreign legal entities targeted by sanctions. The list includes 31 organizations from Europe, the United States, and Singapore. It features former European Gazprom subsidiaries, operators of underground gas storage facilities, and traders connected to the Polish-Russian joint venture that is part of the larger Yamal-Europe project.
The Russian gas pipeline system runs from Russia through Belarus and Poland, terminating in Germany, with a maximum capacity of 32.9 billion cubic meters per year. In recent months, however, this route has been scarcely utilized. Reports from Russian news agencies indicate that the decline is largely due to a lack of demand from European consumers rather than a shortage of supply.
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On Thursday, May 12, Ukraine rejected an application to route Russian gas to Europe via the Sokhranivka gas metering station within its borders. Gazprom outlined that current flows through Kiev amounted to about 50.6 million cubic meters, with deliveries proceeding through the Sudzha metering station. Gazprom’s representative noted that the geometry of the Sokhranivka GIS had been turned down.
Earlier, on May 11, it was reported that the pumping volume reached 72 million cubic meters. The Ukrainian GTS Operator, OGTSU, had announced that shipments through the Sokhranivka station in Luhansk region would suspend from May 11 due to force majeure. The operator stated that it could not exert control over the Novopskov border compressor station in the area.
OGTSU also highlighted that nearly one third of Russia’s gas supplies to Europe transit through Novopskov. The institution explained that ongoing military activities in parts of Ukraine have placed several gas transmission facilities under the control of Russian forces, complicating reliable operation of the transit network.
Nonetheless, the report suggested the possibility of temporarily reallocating some capacities from Sokhranivka to the Sudzha port to maintain European gas supplies. The State Customs Service noted that the relevant procedures were being conducted within Ukrainian-controlled territory, with the agency reiterating warnings to Gazprom about potential disruptions to gas transit amid the military situation.
Separately, the market observed a notable increase in gas swaps within Europe, with prices rising beyond $1,200 per thousand cubic meters, according to ongoing auction data. This volatility reflects the broader uncertainty surrounding regional gas flows and the evolving geopolitical dynamics affecting energy trade.