Gas prices rise in Europe after Russia says repairing Sudzha gas station to take ‘long time’

Natural gas prices in Europe have surged after Russia signalled that it will take a long time to repair the Sudzha cross-border gas point.

Last Friday (March 21), Ukraine’s military claimed a strike on the gas transport system in Russia’s Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces have been under pressure seven months after a cross-border incursion.

“Media are reporting a successful strike on the Sudzha gas transport system through which the enemy used to transport gas to Europe,” read an update on the Ukrainian military Telegram channel.

Wall Street Journal on Thursday (March 27) reported that the benchmark Dutch TTF contract was up 0.5 per cent at 41.10 euros a megawatt hour in early trade, following a decline in the previous session amid Black Sea cease-fire talks.

Statement from Russia’s deputy PM

The surge in prices was seen after Russia’s deputy PM Alexander Novak said the restoration of the gas metering station will take “a fairly long time,” reported Tass.

It must be noted that the station was in use until January 1 this year and was carrying Russian gas to Europe but currently it stands out of service.

“Regarding the Sudzha gas metering station, damage is being assessed so far. However, overall, as you know, this route - it has no contract and agreements have not been extended since January 1, 2025 - will largely depend, fundamentally, on future interaction on energy with European countries,” Novak was quoted as saying by Tass agency.

“A fairly long time will clearly be required for restoration,” he added.

The Russian Defense Ministry described the destruction of the gas metering station as a deliberate Ukrainian provocation. It claimed the attack was part of a broader pattern of strikes on Russia’s energy infrastructure, allegedly intended to undermine US President Donald Trump’s peace efforts.

Ukraine says Russia blew up their own gas station

Ukraine, on the other hand, said Russians blew up the station themselves.

“Indeed, the station has been repeatedly shelled by the Russians themselves,” Ukraine’s General Staff said in a Telegram post.

Ukraine’s Presidential Chief of Staff Andriy Yermak also posted on X, blaming the Russians for the attack in an attempt to “deceive everyone”.

“The attempts by the Russians to deceive everyone and pretend that they are adhering to the ceasefire will not work, (neither) will the fake news about the strikes on the gas station,” the post read.

The attack on the gas metering station occurred over a week after Russian forces announced they had retaken Sudzha, the largest town Ukraine had occupied during its advance into Kursk. Ukraine’s control of parts of Kursk has been viewed as its only territorial leverage amid growing pressure to negotiate an end to the war.