Import and storage of gas in Ukraine: seeking a sustainable, long-term solution

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Since the beginning of 2025, Ukraine has faced difficulties in importing gas in volumes sufficient to fill storage facilities and secure supply throughout the heating season. The problem stems from a combination of factors: (i) mistakes made in 2024 left Ukraine with record-low gas reserves after the 2024/25 heating season (0.7 bcm in storage at the beginning of April 2025, excluding technical gas); (ii) Russia’s autumn attacks on Ukraine’s gas infrastructure, which significantly disrupted domestic production, leading to a temporary output drop of around 45% in October 2025; and (iii) a systemic lack of a sustainable financing model for gas imports. 

By the end of October 2025, about 14 bcm of gas had been accumulated in storage (including 4.6 bcm of technical gas), only marginally exceeding the minimum level required to ensure security of supply during the heating season. By the end of January 2026, available gas in storage had declined to around 7.5 bcm (excluding technical gas). At the same time, because of intensified Russian attacks on upstream infrastructure, import needs for the 2025/26 heating season increased to around 4.4 bcm, creating an additional financing need of EUR 2 billion, which Naftogaz and the Ukrainian government want to close with foreign and domestic loans and state support. To address the gas shortage, Ukraine signed new contracts with Poland’s ORLEN and Greece’s DEPA to import U.S. LNG.