Russia is systematically attacking Ukraine's gas infrastructure (infographic)

Ukraine has traditionally had an extensive gas infrastructure. Main gas pipelines ran through our country, and huge gas storage facilities were built. In addition, before developing the giant Siberian fields, Ukraine was again one of Europe's largest natural gas suppliers.

Gas storage facilities

Of course, all of this could not go unnoticed by the Russians, given their total desire to destroy Ukraine's economic potential. Especially because, for example, the same gas storage facilities in the west of the country had every opportunity to become international hubs for storing Ukrainian and European gas.

Before Russian invasion in February 2022, gas fields underwent large-scale reconstruction. We are talking about the "Dashava" underground gas storage facility and one of the largest, the "Bilche-Volytsko-Uherske". Both are located in Stryi district, Lviv region (West of Ukraine).

The campaign to destroy Ukraine's gas infrastructure, quite understandably, began with them. For more than a year now, Russian missiles and drones have been flying there very often.

The Russians have focused on their surface part because the storage facilities are exhausted fields where gas is pumped deep underground.

Attacks on gas storage facilities peaked in early 2024. Especially in March, they were hit with the frequency of a jackhammer.

By striking gas fields, the Russians are pursuing two goals at once. On the one hand, they destroy the above-ground infrastructure, making it difficult to lift gas from underground storage facilities and pump it in. On the other hand, they want to intimidate international traders so that they stop storing their gas in our storage facilities.

Over time, the Russians began striking directly at the production sites. These are primarily Poltava and Kharkiv regions (center and East of Ukraine), which account for about 80% of all gas produced in Ukraine. In early 2025, they launched several large-scale missile strikes against these targets.

Coercion to transit to Slovakia

Attacks on gas production intensified after the expiration of the five-year agreement between Ukraine and Russia on gas transit. This gas was still being supplied to Slovakia and Hungary, and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico made many statements about it.

On January 1, 2025, Ukraine refused to extend this agreement, effectively blocking the last direct route of Russian gas to Europe. Now, the Russians can only make their deliveries through Turkey.

The suspension of transit caused a real hysteria among the pro-Russian leadership of Hungary and Slovakia. And the Russians have decided to encourage Ukraine to make concessions by destroying our gas infrastructure.

Also read: How minerals deal could become a "Trojan horse" for Ukraine

Moscow has always used gas deals to corrupt other governments, including in Ukraine and even Germany. Supplying cheap gas to at least two EU allies, Slovakia and Hungary, is crucial for the Russians. This way, they can provide their cronies with large amounts of corrupt money, which can be used to bribe politicians, officials, experts, and the media in other countries. By stopping gas transit, Ukraine has significantly reduced these opportunities.

Strikes are increasing

Just last Friday, March 7, as a result of a large-scale missile launch, the Russians again targeted gas production infrastructure. One of the gas pipeline hubs near Ternopil was hit (West of Ukraine).

Unfortunately, this long-term campaign had negative consequences for Ukraine.

According to Reuters, domestic gas production has dropped by 40% after this year's missile attacks on the industry, forcing Ukraine to significantly increase gas imports. This means additional expenses from the budget, which already depends on allied injections. According to Reuters, Ukraine is to import up to 800 million cubic meters of gas from Europe in February and March.

The good news is that we have made it through the 2024-2025 heating season, thanks partly to a record warm winter.

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