Gazprom continues to supply Russian natural gas to European consumers via transit routes that pass through Ukraine. This ongoing flow is documented by news agencies and official statements from Gazprom, underscoring the continuing role of Ukraine as a corridor for energy deliveries into Western and Central Europe.
According to a Gazprom spokesperson, the volume pumped from the Sudzha gas metering station on December 31 reached 40.2 million cubic meters per day. The figure reflects the latest daily throughput through this Ukrainian route, illustrating how supply levels can fluctuate based on operational, regulatory, and geopolitical factors that influence transit arrangements across the region.
Simultaneously, Gazprom’s corresponding application to route gas through the Sokhranovka GIS faced rejection from Ukrainian authorities. On December 30, Gazprom reported delivering 40.5 million cubic meters of gas to Europe via Ukraine, signaling a consistent, though variable, level of gas movement within the Ukrainian corridor. This pattern emphasizes that Ukraine remains a primary conduit for Russian gas deliveries into European markets, even as other routes are adjusted or constrained by wider strategic considerations.
Earlier forecasts from Ukrainian gas transportation system operators suggested that Russian gas transit via Ukraine on December 31 could be around 40.5 million cubic meters. Taken together, these dynamics highlight the Ukrainian route as still serving as a key channel for energy supply to Western and Central Europe, while other routes, including alternative corridors, continue to evolve in response to broader energy-security priorities and infrastructure status.
Meanwhile, flows from the Nord Stream pipeline have been halted, with shipments redirected toward Turkey and the Balkans via the Turkish Stream and Blue Stream corridors. The observed decrease in transit volumes through Ukraine since May 2022 coincides with Kiev’s announcement that pumping at the Novopskov compressor station, located in the disputed LPR region, was disrupted due to force majeure. Gazprom has disputed that characterization, emphasizing that operational realities and international tensions are influencing how and where gas moves across European networks.
In global energy terms, the European Union emerged as Russia’s largest LNG importer in 2023, with purchases totaling billions of dollars in value and reflecting a broader shift in how Europe sources energy. This trend occurred alongside ongoing efforts by European buyers to replenish underground storage facilities in anticipation of seasonal demand and to diversify supply sources amid a changing geopolitical landscape. Market dynamics in 2023 and 2024 show a nuanced balance between pipeline transit and LNG procurement as European energy security priorities adapt to evolving circumstances.
Looking ahead, European energy strategy continues to emphasize secure, diversified gas supplies, including careful management of storage levels and continued readiness to utilize alternative routes when necessary. The interplay between long-standing pipeline transmission through Ukraine and the expanding role of LNG imports remains a focal point for policymakers, energy companies, and consumers as they navigate a complex, interconnected energy market in Europe and beyond. (Attribution: Gazprom statements; Ukrainian transmission system operator forecasts; TASS reporting.)