Operator data shows that Ukraine's gas imports soared on Wednesday.

According to the data provided by the operator, the state-owned gas transmission system, Ukraine intends to double its daily imports of gas on Wednesday.

According to data from the operator, Ukraine will import approximately 5 million cubic meters (mcm), up from 2.6 millions on Tuesday.

The operator didn't explain why imports increased, but Ukraine experienced frost over the past few days. Temperatures can fall to as low as minus 5 degrees Celsius in the center of the country.

During the colder months, Ukraine imports large volumes of gas, which it stores underground.

Serhiy Makogon, the former head of Ukraine's transmission operator, said last month that gas storage in Ukraine had dropped to a critical 10% level and the country must urgently import significant quantities to meet its requirements.

Ukraine has around 30 billion cubic metres of gas stored, but it no longer reports the amount of gas. These facilities have been regularly targeted by Russian missiles since the full-scale invasion of Russia in February 2022.

Since March 2024, Russia has intensified its bombardment of Ukraine's energy sector, wiping out half the available generating capacities and causing long rolling blackouts throughout the country.

The parent company for the firm that runs gas storage facilities is the state-owned oil and natural gas firm Naftogaz. It said it has enough gas to last a heating season.

According to industry sources, Ukraine will need to import 100 mcm per month of gas during the winter months to maintain the system following the shut down of Russian gas flowing to Europe through Ukraine at the start of the year.

These flows were stopped after Kyiv refused an extension of a transit agreement to Moscow in order to reduce revenue streams that support Moscow's war efforts. (Reporting and editing by Sharon Singleton; Pavel Polityuk)

(source: Reuters)