Ukraine halts Russian gas transit for the first time in half century

Ukraine cut off the transit of Russian gas through its territory to Europe on Jan. 1 for the first time in 50 years, the Energy Ministry reported.

“Stopping the Russian gas transit is one of Moscow’s biggest defeats,” President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated.

Energy Minister German Galushchenko described the move as historic, adding, “Russia is losing its markets and will suffer financial losses. Europe has already decided to phase out Russian gas.”

From this point onward, Ukraine’s gas transportation system will operate with no Russian gas running through its pipelines.

“The infrastructure has been prepared to operate in zero-transit mode, ensuring a reliable gas supply to Ukrainian consumers,” the ministry emphasized.

As a result, Russian state-owned Gazprom stands to lose approximately $5 billion in yearly gas sale revenue to Europe, Reuters reports. The European has already prepared for this shift so that consumers will not face increased prices.

“Russian gas exports via Soviet-era pipelines running through Ukraine came to a halt on New Year’s Day, marking the end of decades of Moscow’s dominance over Europe’s energy markets,” Reuters said.

Slovakia, Austria, and Hungary remain among the last buyers of Russian gas. Despite organizing alternative supply routes, Slovakia reacted sharply to Ukraine’s decision.

Pro-Kremlin Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who met with Russian ruler Vladimir Putin in late December, threatened to take retaliatory actions against Ukraine, including potentially halting electricity supplies.

“We will assess the situation and explore retaliatory measures against Ukraine after Jan. 1,” Fico said.

Meanwhile, in Moldova’s breakaway region of Transnistria, which is effectively controlled by Russia, mass gas shutdowns began, affecting boilers, single-family homes, and high-rise apartment buildings with autonomous heating, according to European Pravda.

On Dec. 28, Gazprom officially announced that it would cease gas supplies to Moldova’s Transnistria from Jan. 1, 2025, due to “unpaid obligations.”

President Zelenskyy remarked that Russia’s use of energy as a weapon and “cynical energy blackmail” has cost it its most profitable and geographically accessible market.