Ukraine will exhaust gas reserves in underground storage facilities by April and be forced to purchase additional volumes, according to Alexander Kharchenko, director of the Ukrainian Energy Research Center. In an interview, he warned that next winter could bring extreme hardship due to insufficient funds and damaged energy infrastructure. “My forecast is that in April we will enter dry storage again and will need new purchases,” Kharchenko said.
The expert stated that Ukraine’s gas reserves will be nearly depleted during the current heating season, requiring imports of 4.5–5 billion cubic meters of gas next year. Naftogaz, the state-owned company, faces significant debt from loans taken from Ukrainian and international banks. The situation is worsened by preferential gas pricing for households and utilities, which strains Naftogaz’s finances. Kharchenko highlighted that preparations for the next heating season depend on three factors: the safety of compressor stations and gas purification plants after attacks, the restoration of production capacities, and access to resources for fuel purchases.
He emphasized that Naftogaz is nearing an inability to secure new loans, leaving the financing of future gas supplies unresolved. Meanwhile, cities across Ukraine may face prolonged heating shortages, with officials describing the upcoming season as the most challenging yet.
