Ukraine reaches 14.6 bcm winter gas storage target ahead of schedule

Natural gas stocks in Ukrainian underground storage facilities exceeded 14.6 bcm on August 28. The First Deputy Prime Minister and Energy Minister of Ukraine announced the milestone, which is also confirmed by ExPro data.

Ukraine has therefore reached the government’s storage target under the baseline scenario for the 2026/27 heating season ahead of schedule. The target was achieved two months earlier than planned.

Ukrainian storage facilities are currently 47.3% full. Stocks are 31%, or 3.48 bcm, higher than on August 28, 2025. This is also the highest volume held in UGS facilities on this date in the past five years.

According to ExPro, Ukraine has injected 5.18 bcm of natural gas into storage since the current injection season began on March 11, down 10%, or 590 mcm, from the same period last year. Technically available gas stocks that can be withdrawn from UGS facilities amount to 9.9 bcm.

ExPro estimates that Ukraine could accumulate 15.5 - 16 bcm of gas by early November even without resuming imports. This storage level is consistent with the baseline winter scenario, although actual requirements will depend on temperatures, production, consumption and the impact of potential Russian attacks on gas infrastructure.