Photo Essay: Russia Leaves Eastern Europe Out in the Cold

Russian gas monopoly Gazprom was supposed to have restarted the flow of natural gas to Europe via Ukraine Jan. 13. How much is actually getting through is uncertain at this point, but one thing is certain: Eastern Europe has been left in the cold ever since Gazprom ceased gas flows Jan. 7.

Locked out: In a dispute with Ukraine over payments and prices, Russian gas monopoly Gazprom cut supply to Ukrainian customers Jan. 1, allowing only enough to transit through Ukrainian pipelines to reach other European countries. But on Jan. 7, Gazprom shut off all gas through Ukraine, accusing Ukraine of siphoning off gas intended for other countries. As a result, many countries, particularly in southeastern Europe, were left in the cold. Here, the rotary handle to a valve stands locked over a natural gas pipe in Berlin Jan. 8.

Photo: Sean Gallup/ Getty Images

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