Gas rationing is inevitable this winter, says expert

16 August 21:15

YOUTUBE

This winter, for the first time since the full-scale war began, Ukraine may face official gas supply rationing schedules, although it has managed to avoid such measures in previous years. This was stated by Yuriy Korolchuk, co-founder of the Institute for Energy Strategies, in an interview with the "Komersant Ukrainian" YouTube channel.

When asked whether Ukrainians would see gas rationing schedules this winter, the expert answered in the affirmative, emphasizing that this would become a new reality despite the fact that such a scenario had been avoided in previous winters.

“Will we see gas rationing schedules this winter? I think we will. In previous years, we didn’t see them—they just issued warnings. But this time, I think there will be restrictions,” Korolchuk said.

The expert identified potential missile strikes on gas infrastructure—not on production facilities, but specifically on compressor stations that supply gas to consumers—as the main risk factor.

“Missile strikes pose significant risks because they can damage that same gas infrastructure even in winter… In other words, those compressor stations are what ensure the subsequent delivery to consumers,” Korolchuk concluded.

An additional factor complicating the situation, according to the expert, is the end of Russian gas transit through the Ukrainian gas transmission system as of January 1, 2025, which for years created additional pressure in the pipeline system—approximately 1 billion cubic meters per month — and ensured a stable supply without excessive consumption of technical gas.

“But there is enough gas in the underground storage facilities—as of the second half of July, reserves exceeded 13 billion cubic meters, and by the start of the heating season, they could reach 15 billion,” he concluded.