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Which countries are completely dependent on Russian gas and which have moved away from the Kremlin's influence? Figures from 2021 to 2025...
In 2021, Eastern European countries imported almost half of their gas from Russia. Only two countries in the region – Albania and Kosovo – were completely independent of Russian gas.
In 2024, five other countries did not import any Russian gas (six if Transnistria is excluded from Moldova's import data). Russia went from supplying an average of 80% of the gas of every Eastern European country to 37.6% in that period.
"By early 2025, most Eastern European countries had drastically reduced or completely cut off their dependence on Russian natural gas," said Maximilian Hess, a fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, in a paper for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
According to him, only Hungary, Serbia and Slovakia continue to import limited volumes through Turkey and the BalkanStream network.
Diversification was achieved through increased LNG capacity, Norwegian and Azerbaijani supplies, and the expansion of regional interconnectors.
"It is an extraordinary transformation that in 2022 many thought impossible. It has happened partly thanks to the fact that the EU is able to obtain gas from other exporters, but mainly due to the development of European liquefied natural gas (LNG) import capacity in the region and its neighbors, in particular Turkey," adds Hess.
Hess went on to make a country-by-country breakdown of natural gas and energy supplies in Eastern Europe, with a focus on dependence on Russia and recent efforts at diversification:
Albania and Kosovo
2021: Completely independent of Russian gas.
Reason: Albania has sufficient domestic energy and low demand; Kosovo has no trade with Russia due to non-recognition.
Austria
2021-2023: Imports between 83% and 98% of natural gas from Russia, depending on the month.
2025: No more Russian gas.
It plays a strategic role in storing and distributing gas for Central and Eastern Europe despite relatively low consumption (~6.9 billion cubic meters per year).
Bosnia and Herzegovina
2021: 100% dependent on Russian gas.
Current: Limited data, but likely still partially dependent via BalkanStream.
Bulgaria
2021: 94% of gas imports from Russia.
2025: Direct Russian imports largely ended.
Diversification: Securing new contracts with Azerbaijan; now primarily a transportation route.
Croatia
2021: 55% of gas from Russia.
Diversification: Significant use of the Krk LNG terminal (capacity doubled to 6.1 bcm/year).
Czech Republic
2021: Almost total dependence on Russian gas.
Diversification: Now interconnected via Poland; may still receive indirect Russian gas via Germany.
Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania (Baltic)
2021: 74% collective dependence on Russian gas.
2022: Russian gas imports are banned.
Infrastructure: Lithuania has its own LNG terminal (Klaipėda), Estonia is connected to Finland via Balticconnector.
finland
2021: Highly dependent on Russian gas.
2022: Discontinued after application to NATO.
2023–2024: Supplies via the Inkoo LNG terminal and Balticconnector.
Hungary
2021: 95% of gas imports from Russia.
2025: Still imports Russian gas via TurkStream and Balkan Stream.
Politics: Pro-Russian energy policy under Viktor Orban; continues cooperation with Gazprom.
MOLDOVA
2021: 100% dependent on Russian gas (if Transnistria is included).
2024: No more Russian gas (with the exception of Transnistria).
Current: Some support remains on the Turkish Stream routes.
North Macedonia
2021: 100% dependent on Russian gas.
2025: Likely still dependent on Balkan routes.
Poland
2021: 78.3% of gas from Russia.
2025: No longer imports Russian gas.
Diversification: Świnoujście LNG terminal (expanded to 8.3 bcm), Baltic Pipeline from Norway (10 bcm) and new Gdańsk terminal under construction.
Romania
2021: 24% of gas from Russia; least dependent among major Eastern European economies.
Future: The Neptun Deep project will double production by 2027; it is expected to become the EU's largest gas producer and net exporter.
Serbia
2021: 89% of gas from Russia.
2025: Still heavily dependent on Russian supplies via TurkStream and BalkanStream.
Contracts: Benefit from long-term and favorable agreements with Gazprom.
Slovakia
2021: Almost 100% of gas from Russia.
After 2023: The new government under Robert Fico reversed the anti-Russian stance, trying to restore flows.
2025: Receives limited Russian gas via Balkan routes.
Slovenia
2021: Approximately 80% of gas from Russia.
Current: No detailed update, but likely diversified through regional connections and LNG imports.
Ukraine
2021: Main transit country for Russian gas.
2024: Russian transit ended after not renewing the contract.
2025: Controls major transit points, likely seeking new non-Russian post-war supplies. /Pamphlet adapted from IntellNews/
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