On the night of October 3, Russia carried out a new massive attack with drones and missiles on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. According to DTEK Naftogaz, the strikes led to the shutdown of a number of gas production facilities in the Poltava region, Kommersant Ukrainsky reports.
“At night, the enemy once again attacked DTEK Naftogaz’s energy infrastructure with drones and missiles. As a result of the attack, the operation of a number of gas production facilities in the Poltava region was stopped,” the company’s press service reported.
Consequences for the regions
The Poltava region is one of the key centers of natural gas production in Ukraine, so the attack has not only a local but also a strategic impact. Although the company did not specify the extent of the damage, it is said that some wells and installations were temporarily suspended.
In parallel, serious problems with energy supply were recorded in other regions:
in Sumy region, parts of Konotop and Shostka districts were cut off;
emergency power outages were announced in a number of regions.
What Naftogaz says
Naftogaz CEO Serhiy Koretsky says that the strike by Russian troops on gas infrastructure on October 3 was the largest since the start of the full-scale war.
“Targeted terror against civilian facilities that ensure the production and preparation of gas, which are used to ensure normal life for people. No military sense. Another manifestation of Russian meanness, aimed solely at disrupting the heating season and depriving us of the opportunity to heat Ukrainians’ homes in winter,” he said.
The company noted that on the night of October 3, the Russians fired 35 missiles at Naftogaz facilities in the Kharkiv and Poltava regions, including a significant number of ballistic missiles, as well as 60 drones. Some were shot down. Others were hit.
“As a result of this attack, a significant number of our facilities were damaged. Some of the damage is critical. The elimination of the consequences of the strike is ongoing,” the message states.
The head of the company also noted that Naftogaz is working with Ukrainian partners to ensure that the response to this strike and its impact on the overall situation is prompt and sufficient.
“Terror should not achieve its goal anywhere,” the head of the Naftogaz Group noted.
Why is Russia striking at Ukraine’s energy infrastructure
With such strikes, Russia is trying to undermine Ukraine’s energy security before the heating season. The gas industry, despite the war, provides up to 70% of the country’s natural gas needs. Any shutdowns of facilities could have consequences for the balance between domestic production and imports.
What experts say
Energy analyst Oleksandr Kharchenko believes that the attacks on gas production infrastructure are an attempt by Russia to “reduce Ukraine’s energy autonomy.”
“Each disconnected facility is a minus in the balance of domestic production. If the attacks continue regularly, Ukraine risks increasing gas imports in the winter,” he explains.
According to former Energy Minister Ivan Plachkov, even partial damage in the Poltava region could have a delayed effect:
“The main problem is not only a temporary shutdown, but also the risk of long-term repairs. This means additional costs for the state and business.”
At the same time, the Ministry of Energy previously stated that gas reserves in underground storage facilities are more than 16 billion cubic meters, which should be enough for a stable heating season even in the event of new attacks. Recall that in 2022–2023, Ukraine lost part of its gas capacity due to hostilities and the occupation of territories. According to Ukrgazvydobuvannya, in 2023 the country produced about 18.9 billion cubic meters of gas, which allowed it to almost completely cover domestic consumption without imports. Since the beginning of 2024, Russian attacks have increasingly been directed at gas production infrastructure, which is critical for getting through the winter.
