NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg made an unannounced visit to Kyiv. Ukrainian troops advance in the Zaporizhzhia direction. Forty foreign traders store gas in Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On September 28, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg made an unannounced visit to Kyiv. It was his second visit to Ukraine since the start of Russia\u2019s full-scale invasion. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Stoltenberg met with President Zelenskyi. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
He last visited the Ukrainian capital on April 20, 2023. He then said that his very presence in Ukraine sent the message to the people of the country that \u201cNATO stands with Ukraine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the same day, September 28, UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi on an unannounced visit to Kyiv. The visit was Shapps\u2019 first to the Ukrainian capital since he became defence secretary last month. French Defense Minister S\u00e9bastien Lecornu visited Kyiv on Thursday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Russian forces likely no longer control a roughly one-kilometer-long trench line west of Verbove, in Zaporizhzhia region, an indication that Ukraine continues to advance in the area, the Institute for the Study of War said in a report on September 27.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ukrainian forces marginally advanced near Bakhmut and in western Zaporizhia Oblast on September 27. Geolocated footage published on September 26 indicates that Ukrainian forces advanced near Orikhovo-Vasylivka (10km northwest of Bakhmut). Additional geolocated footage published on September 26 indicates that Russian forces likely no longer control a roughly one-kilometer-long trench line west of Verbove (16km southeast of Orikhiv). The absence of Russian forces in this trench line could facilitate further Ukrainian advances in this area, as this trench line is no longer a significant obstacle for Ukrainian forces. Ukraine\u2019s commander of the Tavria operational strategic group, Brigadier General Oleksandr Tarnavskyi stated that \u201cthere will be good news\u201d in the Zaporizhia operational direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Between April and September 2023, 40 foreign companies used short-haul services of the gas transmission operator, GTS Operator of Ukraine (GTSOU), to transport and store gas in the country. Among them are Europe\u2019s largest traders. (With regard to short-haul services, companies interested in storing gas in Ukrainian facilities can import volumes into the country on a cheaper tariff). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The GTSOU has concluded 25 new contracts for gas transportation services with foreign companies, bringing the total number of foreign clients to more than 130. Ukraine holds about two bcm of foreign gas in storage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cReliability and responsibility that the GTS and Storage System Operators demonstrate in the provision of natural gas transportation and storage services have been highly appreciated by European customers. The situation on the European gas market creates a demand for additional storage facilities. This demand can and should be covered by Ukraine that provides its international partners with cost-effective services at very competitive prices,\u201d said Dmytro Lyppa, General Director of the GTS Operator of Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In August 2023, GTSOU stress tested Ukraine\u2019s gas infrastructure to assess the risk of the war hampering traders\u2019 ability to safely store gas in Ukraine and transport it to the European Union. It partnered with the underground gas storage operator Ukrtransgas, the USAID Energy Security Project, the Energy Community Secretariat, the Directorate General \u201cJoint Research Center\u201d of the European Commission (as an observer), Ukraine\u2019s Ministry of Energy, the Naftogaz Group, and the Simone Research Group to conduct the risk assessment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The operator said that Ukraine\u2019s gas infrastructure proved its \u201chigh reliability and resilience\u201d in the crisis situations modelled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n