Latest news with #Zelensky-Trump
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ukraine to boost gas imports due to Russian attacks on energy infrastructure, Bloomberg reports
Ukraine plans to import about 3.5 billion cubic meters of gas for the upcoming heating season due to ongoing Russian attacks on its energy infrastructure, Bloomberg reported on March 4. Recent Russian missile and drone strikes have significantly reduced Ukraine's gas production capacity, forcing the country to rely more heavily on imports to meet domestic demand. Damage to infrastructure has caused production drops of up to 40% at times. 'We are waiting for a final approval of the balance, which will define the projected volume of consumption, extraction, and imports of gas,' Roman Chumak, acting CEO of Ukraine's state-owned oil and gas company Naftogaz, told Bloomberg. The country's gas buying plans come amid a volatile market marked by high competition and elevated prices due to Europe's need to replenish low gas inventories. In February, Ukraine imported 560 million cubic meters of gas from Europe, compared to just 700 million cubic meters for the entire previous heating season, Bloomberg reported, citing estimates from Kyiv-based Dragon Capital. Due to Russian strikes and extreme cold in February, Ukraine's gas production sharply declined, leading Naftogaz to urgently purchase significant amounts of natural gas from the European Union to meet critical heating demands. Tensions between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump could potentially weaken Ukraine's ability to defend against Russian attacks, raising concerns about energy security, according to Bloomberg. Naftogaz and Ukrainian energy company DTEK confirmed to Reuters that Russian forces attacked and damaged their facilities twice in February. At the start of 2025, Ukraine halted its agreement with Russia to transport Russian gas to European customers through its pipelines, as the deal expired at the end of 2024 and was not renewed. Read also: US military aid freeze to Ukraine temporary, linked to Zelensky-Trump clash We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Italy to provide Ukraine with $13 million to restore energy infrastructure
Rome signed an agreement with Kyiv on Feb. 28 to provide Ukraine with 13 million euros ($13.5 million) directed towards the country's Energy Support Fund, Ukraine's Energy Ministry announced. The funding will be used to support "the restoration of Ukraine's energy sector," a news release from the Energy Ministry read. Russia continues to target Ukrainian energy infrastructure, testing Ukraine's resolve as the country is enduring another winter. "This assistance will allow us to procure essential equipment and strengthen the resilience of Ukraine's energy system at a time when the enemy is relentlessly attacking energy facilities," Ukraine's Deputy Energy Minister Roman Andarak said in a statement. Earlier this month, Italy an agreement with the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) to launch a 2 million euro ($2.07 million) project to strengthen Ukraine's energy system, the Italian Embassy in Ukraine told the Kyiv Independent. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who took office in late 2022, has consistently supported Kyiv and pledged unwavering assistance until the war ends. Material losses from on Ukrainian energy infrastructure have amounted to "billions of dollars," according to Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko. Halushchenko said on Feb. 24 that Russia has launched more than 30 mass strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure over the three years of its full-scale invasion. Over the past three years, Russian troops have occupied territories hosting energy facilities producing 18 gigawatts (GW) of generation. The occupied facilities include hydroelectric power plants, thermal power plants, and Europe's largest nuclear power plant, stationed in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. Read also: Italy calls for 'immediate' summit between US, Europe following Zelensky-Trump clash We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Russian forces suffer record vehicle losses in February
During the month of February, Ukrainian forces destroyed the largest number of Russian vehicles since the start of the full-scale invasion, according to Ukraine's Defense Ministry. In the shortest month of the year, Ukrainians destroyed 3,472 vehicles and fuel tanks, as well as 596 armoured combat vehicles and 331 tanks, the statement said. In February, the number of combat clashes dropped compared to January: 3,274 against 5,087. Instead, the number of enemy air strikes on the Ukrainian troops' positions and frontline settlements increased from about 2,400 guided aerial bombs in January to 3,522 in February. The Ministry also sited the General Staff's information on Russia's manpower losses, which shows that the Russian army irretrievably lost 36,570 people in February. Russia has marginally gained ground in eastern Ukraine and Kursk Oblast in recent months but at the cost of heavy casualties as well as equipment losses. As military equipment dwindles, Russian commanders have been forced to provide less protective equipment to soldiers, highlighted by their use of civilian cars in attacks. The General Staff reported on March 1 that Russia has lost 875,610 troops in Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022 — an estimate in line with Western intelligence assessments. Read also: European leaders reaffirm support for Ukraine after Zelensky-Trump clash We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
