On October 10, according to a US source familiar with the matter, recent Russian attacks have destroyed more than half of Ukraine's gas production, forcing Kiev to urgently seek more than $2 billion in imports to avoid a winter energy crisis.
Ukraine is estimated to need to buy about 4.4 billion cubic meters of gas, worth 1.9 billion euros ($2.2 billion), equivalent to nearly 20% of annual consumption needs, to overcome winter. Kiev is seeking financial support for the item.
Ukrainian energy giant Naftogaz said that recent loans, including 500 million euros from the European Bank for reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in August and 300 million euros from the European Investment Bank (EIB) in October, were still not enough to buy the remaining gas.
Ukraine has also called on the G7 to provide additional energy repair equipment and continues to request additional air defense systems.
According to the Kiev government, Russia's missile attack on the Kharkov and Poltava regions on October 3 destroyed about 60% of Ukraine's gas exploitation capacity.
Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry said the country had launched a "massive attack" on defense and energy facilities to support Ukraine's military operations.
Moscow insists the strikes are an act of response to Ukraine's attacks on Russian energy infrastructure and residential areas, stressing that they are targeting targets directly related to Kiev's military facilities.
Russia began attacking Ukraine's energy infrastructure and gas production facilities after Kiev bombed Crimean Bridge in October 2022, killing four people.
At the time, President Vladimir Putin said Russia would retaliate against Ukrainian attacks on energy infrastructure, which had increased over the past year.
