Ukraine noted a reduction in the transit of Russian gas through its territory

The head of the Ukrainian GTS Operator, Serhiy Makogon, said that Russia is cutting gas transit through the Ukrainian territory.

“Gas transit through Ukraine is not only a significant income, but an important element of Ukraine’s energy and military security,” he wrote on Facebook.

Makogon considers it important to prevent the completion of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.

In March, the head of Naftogaz Ukrainy, Andriy Kobolev, said that direct gas imports from Russia would jeopardize Ukraine’s sovereignty.

As previously reported by the operator’s press service, in February transit of natural gas to Europe through Ukraine decreased by 25% compared to January – to 2.91 billion cubic meters.

“Gazprom is gradually reducing transit through Ukraine. After the launch of the Turkish Stream <…> transit to Turkey, Greece and Bulgaria has completely switched from Ukraine to new gas pipelines. And since April 1, gas supplies to Romania are fully ensured from Bulgaria through” Turkish Stream, “Makogon pointed out.

Now, in the southern direction through Ukraine, transit is carried out only for consumers from Moldova, the head of the company added. According to him, if the Turkish Stream continues through Bulgaria and Serbia, then Gazprom will switch to a pipeline and transit to Hungary.

“For Ukraine, this means an additional loss of 10-12 billion cubic meters of transit annually,” he added.
Moscow and Kiev at the end of December 2019 signed a package of agreements on the continuation of gas transit through Ukraine.

Under a five-year contract, Gazprom guaranteed the pumping of 65 billion cubic meters of gas in 2020 and 40 billion each in the next four years.