LATVIA has become the latest victim of Vladmir Putin’s war on energy after chocking their gas supply indefinitely.
The country follows in the footsteps of other European nations to have faced the axe as Russia continues to weaponize energy supplies on the West.
Russia has cut the gas supply of Latvia amid growing fears of a winter energy crisis[/caption]
Gazprom announced the decision after country refused to pay for supplies in roubles[/caption]
This week towns and cities in Germany were plunged into darkness after Russian-state energy giant Gazprom strangled supplies by 20 per cent.
Hanover’s mayor Belit Onay said the “imminent gas shortage” meant he had to cut energy consumption by 15 per cent.
The move, which could soon be implement in regions across the country, has already seen residents taking cold showers as they feel the chill of Putin’s meddling.
German breweries have also been told to stop the production of beer amid fears Oktoberfest will be cancelled.
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Spanish residents meanwhile have even faced calls to take off unnecessary clothing at work – such as ties – to cool down amid dwindling supplies.
He encouraged all public officials to ditch the neck-wear ahead of an announcement of more energy-saving measures on Monday.
Fears of impending energy crisis this winter has also seen plans introduced by Belgium to reverse its phase-out of nuclear energy, while the Netherlands and Austria are switching to coal-fired power plants.
Many are reacting to Putin’s policy on energy implemented to exacting revenge on European leaders for apparently defying him over the war in Ukraine.
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Experts say the tyrant believes the policies may act as leverage in negotiations given the huge reliance Europe has on Russian gas and energy.
Today, in the latest of those moves, state-owned gas giant Gazprom announced that Latvia’s supplies would be cut off after the country refused to pay for supplies in roubles.
Several countries have taken this stance in light of the EU’s crippling sanctions on Moscow.
In a statement, the company said it was halting its gas deliveries to neighbouring Latvia because they broke “terms for extraction of gas.”
The Edijs Saicans, deputy state secretary on energy policy at the Latvian Economy Ministry said they had already decided to ban Russian gas imports from January 1, 2023 and defiantly added they would not be affected.
“We do not see any major impacts from such a move,” he said following the announcement.
Gazprom has already cut off gas supplies to Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, Poland and Bulgaria because the countries would not pay in their local currency as required by the supplier.
On Tuesday, EU countries reportedly agreed on emergency regulation to curb their gas use this winter as the Putin continues to slash supplies.
The European Commission had previously warned that complying with Putin’s order could breach EU sanctions on Moscow.
It has urged companies to keep paying in the currency agreed in their contracts with Gazprom despite the ongoing restrictions.
The news comes as the war on Ukraine deepens with fresh reports that Putin’s men could be on the ropes after President Volodymyr Zelensky’s brave troops wiped out two Russian ammunition depots.
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The Directorate for Strategic Communications of the Ukrainian army confirmed Ukraine hit two ammunition depots in Ilovaisk (Donetsk Oblast) and Brylivka belonging to Russia in the early hours of Friday morning.
Footage shared on social media show enormous flames erupting and thick, dark plumes of smoke filling the Ukrainian night sky.
Russian officials have already strangled supplies through the Nord Stream pipe line[/caption]
Putin is believed to be weaponizing energy supplies on the West as revenge on European leaders for apparently defying him over the war in Ukraine[/caption]
