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Zelenskiy: Russia struck gas facility in Odesa Region to undermine winter preparations

Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the president of Ukraine, said that Russia had struck a gas plant in Odesa, a southern region of Ukraine, undermining winter preparations.

He claimed that the Orlovka Interconnector, which is the route through which Ukraine receives its gas via Transbalkan, was attacked by terrorists in the village Novosilske, near the border with Romania.

Zelenskiy, a Russian energy expert, said that the move was "absolutely cynical" and a deliberate attack on our heating preparations.

Russia has not yet commented on the incident.

Since a series devastating Russian missile attacks this year that significantly reduced the domestic gas production, Ukraine has been facing a severe gas shortage.

Russia has denied that it targets civilians ever since its invasion of Ukraine began more than three year ago. However, they say infrastructure like energy systems is a legitimate target because they aid Ukraine's war efforts.

On Wednesday morning, the governor for the southern Odesa Region reported that an attack had been made on the gas infrastructure, including the main pipeline. He said work was underway to remove the gas from the pipeline.

Ukrainian officials have not said if the interconnector is damaged or if gas will continue to be pump.

Orlovka was to receive 0.4 million cubic meters of gas on Wednesday, according to Ukrainian transit operator.

Ukraine announced last month that it would significantly increase its gas imports, mainly from SOCAR Energy in Azerbaijan.

Gas can be delivered to Ukraine via the Transbalkan route, which connects Greece with Bulgaria and Romania.

Kyiv called the route "extremely significant" as it allows access to gas from Greek, Turkish and Azerbaijani LNG terminals and pipeline gas from Romania and Azerbaijan. It could also provide access to offshore gas in Bulgaria. (Reporting and editing by Toby Chopra, Alex Richardson, and Pavel Polityuk)

(source: Reuters)