Ukrainian GTS operating without russian gas transit starting Jan1

The Ukrainian GTS has been operating without russian gas transit starting from January 1, 2025, Ukraine’s international partners have been notified of this issue in accordance with the established procedure, Gas Transmission System Operator of Ukraine (GTSOU) informed on Wednesday morning.

According to it, the transit agreement with Russia's Gazprom expired at 7:00 Kyiv time on the first day of 2025. As a result, the transmission of natural gas from the entry point Sudzha on the eastern border of Ukraine to the exit points on the western and southern borders has been suspended.

“The Gas TSO of Ukraine has prepared the infrastructure in advance to operate in zero transit mode and ensure a reliable gas supply to Ukrainian consumers. The company’s team is ready to work under new conditions,” emphasized Dmytro Lyppa, General Director of GTSOU.

The GTSOU has specifically committed to increasing firmed capacities (guaranteed) in order to prepare for the new circumstances and ensure the availability of gas supplies to Ukraine as well as to the European consumers via Ukraine. The Company drastically reduced natural gas consumption for its own purposes and optimized a significant numerous of assets not involved in the gas transmission system.

"All the necessary work on the preparation of the system was carried out by the Ukrainian GTS Operator, so we are absolutely ready for the operation of our system without transit of Russian gas," said Minister of Energy of Ukraine Herman Haluschenko on the air of the national marathon Yedyni Novyny (United News).

As reported, an agreement between Naftogaz Ukrainy and Gazprom for organizing transportation, a transport agreement between Naftogaz and GTSOU, as well as an inter-operator agreement between GTSOU and Gazprom were signed on December 30, 2019. The contract provides for transit of 40 billion cubic meters of gas per year in 2021-2024.

Representatives of the Ukrainian authorities in 2024 have repeatedly stated that Ukraine does not intend to sign a transit contract with the Russian Federation after its completion. At the same time, it was announced that negotiations were underway on the supply of Azerbaijani gas to Europe through Russia and Ukraine, although Baku does not have a significant free resource.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy put the final end on the issue of continuing transit in 2025 on December 19 on the sidelines of the EU Summit in Brussels: "We will not extend the transit of Russian gas, we will not give the opportunity to earn additional billions on our blood."

The results of stress tests conducted with the assistance of USAID showed that the GTS and UGS of Ukraine are ready to operate in zero transit conditions.

The European Commission declares the EU's readiness to stop the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine, and the availability of alternative routes for the supply of non-Russian gas.