On Tuesday, Russian energy giant Gazprom confirmed it is continuing to supply gas to Western and Central Europe which is transiting through Ukrainian territory via the Sudzha pumping station.

As the only operating interconnector in Ukraine, the entry point has seen supplies rise to 41.2 million cubic meters (mcm) on May 23rd, compared to 40.9 mcm which had been pumped the previous day through the entry point.

In a statement, Gazprom spokesperson Sergey Kupriyanov told reporters, “Gazprom supplies Russian gas for transit through the territory of Ukraine in the amount confirmed by the Ukrainian side through the Sudzha… Application for ‘Sokhranovka’ was rejected.”

Previously a key gas transit route which handled roughly one third of the Russian gas flowing through Ukraine and destined for the European Union, the Sokhranovka station was shut down by Ukraine in early May, due to what Ukraine claimed was “interference by the occupying forces.”

Deliveries of Russian gas to the European Union via Ukraine plummeted last May, following the imposition of sweeping sanctions which caused shipments to fall to 24 mcm by January of this year. Daily transit volumes have been recovering since February, however.

Transiting gas through Ukrainian territory is the only means remaining for Russian supplies to reach the countries of Western and Central Europe following the sabotage attacks in September which left the Nord Stream pipelines unable to operate.

Gazprom still transports gas to southern and southeastern Europe by the TurkStream and Blue Stream pipelines.

Verified by MonsterInsights