why is the Brotherhood gas pipeline still operational?

For several days, Ukraine has been accused of double talk regarding Russian gas. On the one hand by calling for its boycott, on the other by letting it pass through its territory via a gas pipeline. So, what is there in these accusations? Russia exports to Western Europe through three main gas pipelines, Nord Stream via the Baltic Sea, Yamal in Belarus and Poland, and Brotherhood which does pass through Ukrainian territory. This gas pipeline, built in 1967 by the Soviet Union is still in operation. Ukraine and Russia are linked by a contract renegotiated in 2019. As Ukraine owns the part of the gas pipeline that is on its territory, Gazprom pays it transit rights, seven billion euros over five years. A contract that Ukraine cannot unilaterally cancel.

But from a purely technical point of view, can Ukraine cut off the arrival of Russian gas on its territory? There too it is complicated, because the energy is sent continuously via this gas pipeline, and it is not possible to completely stop the flow without risking a deadly explosion on Ukrainian soil. “A gas well is very difficult to stop. If we close the valves which are those which arrive at the borders, this operation cannot be done if the pressure is too high”, explains Anna Creti, professor of economics at the Paris-Dauphine University, Director of the Gas Economics Chair.