Even as Russia
continues to bomb Ukraine to bits, Moscow continues to pay Kyiv full fuel
transit fee for moving natural gas to Europe, according to a Bloomberg report.
This is happening at a time when daily gas flows from Russia rose by nearly 50%
since the lows it reached in January. Yuriy Vitrenko, chief executive officer
of NJSC Naftogaz Ukrainy, Ukraine’s largest state-owned oil and gas company,
told Bloomberg that Russia is still paying Ukraine for transit in hard
currency.

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Russia continues
to supply natural gas to Europe even as nations across the continent have
imposed severe sanctions that could well derail the Russian economy. The rise
in supply comes at a time when many European governments have pledged to wean
away from their dependence on Russian natural gas. Europe has been trying to rely
more on natural gas supply from the United States and Qatar.

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Gazprom PJSC, the
Russian state-owned exporter, said natural gas supplies rose due to more orders
from European customers. In the 48 hours since the Ukraine war began, gas
supplies from Russia reached their highest levels since January.

The increase in
imports amid sanctions shows Europe’s desperate dependence on Russian natural
gas. European customers have little to no options in the near term to meet the
gas demand, according to an analysis carried out by JPMorgan Chase.

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The Ukrainian oil
and gas company has called upon allies to put payments to Moscow until it
agrees to withdraw troops from Ukraine. Gazprom pays Ukraine nearly $2 billion
a year for gas transhipment services.

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Meanwhile, the
Russian offensive in Mariupol has continued. Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister
Iryna Vereshchuk said Wednesday that agreements have been made to evacuate
trapped civilians in Ukraine towns through “humanitarian corridors.” On the
other hand, Russian military forces have destroyed a new laboratory at the
Chernobyl nuclear plant.