Ukraine loses 60% of gas production to Russian strikes, Zelenskyy outlines two winter plans
Ukraine has lost 60% of its domestic gas production due to recent Russian strikes on energy infrastructure, forcing Kyiv to spend €1.9 billion ($2.2 billion) on extra fuel imports ahead of winter, Bloomberg reported Thursday, citing sources familiar with the matter.
The strikes on October 3 targeted facilities in Kharkiv and Poltava oblasts, wiping out more than half of the country's gas output, the agency said.
While Ukraine's gas infrastructure can meet internal demand under normal conditions, it has faced increasingly intense Russian bombardments in recent weeks.
If the attacks persist, Ukraine will need to import about 4.4 billion cubic meters of gas by the end of March 2026, costing nearly €2 billion and representing almost 20% of annual consumption, Bloomberg reported.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, speaking to reporters, said that Ukraine has two plans for gas this winter: Plan A relies on domestic supplies, while Plan B calls for imports if large-scale enemy strikes hit the infrastructure.
Russia is targeting energy and rail facilities in the north and Poltava region to "create chaos and pressure on the population," Zelenskyy said.
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