After the Russian attacks, Ukraine plans to import 800 million cubic meters of gas by April.

Ukraine will import 800 million cubic meters (mcms) of gas in February and march to compensate for the sometimes 40% decrease in production following Russian missile attacks on the sector. A senior industry source said on Friday.

Since its invasion in 2022, Russia has launched many missiles and drones at Ukraine's electric sector. However, it has intensified attacks on gasfields over the past few weeks.

The Ukrainian state gas company Naftogaz, and the major private energy firm DTEK, have both reported that Russia has damaged and attacked their facilities at least two times in February.

Prior to the strikes, Ukraine produced 52 million cubic metres of gas per day and consumed between 110-140 mcm/day in winter. The gap was filled by gas storage.

The source who asked to remain anonymous to discuss sensitive wartime issues said, "We could have done without imports during this heating season but the attacks against production are forcing us import gas to make up for this reduction in our domestic production."

The Ukrainian operator of gas transmission systems said that the country began increasing gas imports in February. Since then, the volume has increased by almost 10 times to reach more than 20 mcm per day.

Sources and officials in the energy sector do not reveal the current gas production level. Ukraine uses gas primarily to heat homes and cook.

The main Ukrainian gas production facilities are susceptible to Russian attacks because they are located on the frontline in Kharkiv and the neighbouring Poltava region.

Sources said Ukraine had low gas reserves, but that with imports planned and domestic production it would be able see the heating season through - which starts usually in late October and finishes in April – without imposing restrictions on industry or households.

Experts in the energy sector had warned previously that storage reserves are close to 10% of their storage capacity, which is around 30 billion cubic metres.

Sources said Ukraine must start pumping gas in the spring for winter 2025/26 and that the country needs to collect about 13 bcm. Ukraine had stored 12.9 bcm at the beginning of the current winter season.

The source said that it is unclear how much gas will be imported after March. This will depend on local production which will directly be affected by the intensity and frequency of Russian missile strikes. (Reporting and editing by Emelia Sithole Matarise; reporting by Pavel Polityuk)

(source: Reuters)