Ukraine, which earlier this year shut off Russian gas transit through its territory, straining relations with its neighbors, is now reportedly heavily relying on gas imports from those same countries — Slovakia and Hungary.
According to Czech news outlet Echo24, Ukraine has, since Friday, significantly increased its natural gas imports from both nations to compensate for losses after a series of Russian missile and drone attacks targeted its gas storage facilities.
The news outlet cited data from Bloomberg showing that gas flows through the Budince transfer station on the Slovak-Ukrainian border surged to 7.3 million cubic meters on Saturday, marking the highest daily volume in over a year. This spike in imports comes despite the simmering political tensions that erupted when Kyiv halted the flow of Russian gas through its pipelines at the start of 2024, a move that angered both Slovakia and Hungary, which rely on Ukrainian transit routes for their energy needs.
Ukraine’s decision to block Russian gas transit was driven by fears that allowing it to continue would leave the country vulnerable to further Russian influence and potential sabotage. However, that decision had unintended consequences. Slovakia and Hungary, both dependent on the gas routes through Ukraine, were left scrambling to adjust their energy strategies. The diplomatic fallout was immediate, with both countries criticizing Kyiv for disrupting a critical regional energy supply chain.
Now, just months later, Ukraine finds itself in the paradoxical position of depending on these very countries for its own gas needs. Following Russia’s intensified attacks on Ukraine’s gas infrastructure in the western Lviv region, Kyiv has been forced to boost imports from Slovakia and Hungary to keep homes heated and industries running.
The end of Russian gas transit has also had deeper consequences for Ukraine’s energy strategy. For years, Kyiv benefited from a system known as “virtual reverse flow,” in which it officially purchased gas from Slovakia that had originally come from Russia. While the gas was technically bought from European partners, it never physically left Ukrainian territory, allowing Ukraine to secure energy supplies without directly engaging with Russia.
With the cessation of Russian transit, this arrangement collapsed. Ukraine can no longer siphon off gas from transit pipelines, leaving it more exposed to supply disruptions. Compounding the issue, the absence of Russian gas transit has emboldened Moscow to escalate its attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. With no Russian gas flowing through Ukrainian territory, Russia has little to lose by targeting the country’s gas network.
Faced with dwindling reserves and continued attacks, Ukraine’s increased dependence on Slovak and Hungarian gas appears likely to continue. However, this reliance could force Kyiv into a difficult balancing act. While Ukraine is committed to reducing its dependence on Russian energy, the need for immediate gas supplies may push it to reconsider its position on reopening transit routes through its territory.
At the same time, Ukraine is looking to diversify its energy sources, including increasing imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the United States with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expected to raise the matter with U.S. President Donald Trump in the coming weeks.
