The Russian energy firm Gazprom taunts the West with an ominous film depicting Europe freezing over once Moscow cuts off gas supply.
State-run business has published a spooky film taunting Europe with a chilly winter.
Photographs depicted an icy fog after a Gazprom employee cut off supplies.
Putin’s energy “blackmail” threatens to wreak devastation throughout Europe.
Gazprom, the state-controlled energy behemoth of Russia, has mocked Europe with a menacing film warning of a lengthy winter with snow and ice sweeping the continent.
Winter will be Protracted is a two-minute video that demonstrates how Europe will freeze due to the expensive energy prices created by Vladimir Putin’s brutal invasion of Ukraine.
The movie depicts a worker shutting off the gas supply, causing the gas pressure gauge to drop to zero, while foreboding icy clouds and aerial views of Brussels, Berlin, Paris, and London flash across the screen.
The video is accompanied by a woman singing the classic bard song Winter shall be Long by Yuri Vizbor in ominous tones.
It contains the depressing words, “Look, across the river, autumn is quietly dying… And winter will be long, with nothing but twilight and snow.’
Gazprom, the state-controlled energy behemoth of Russia, has mocked Europe with a menacing film warning of a lengthy winter with snow and ice creeping over the continent.
Winter will be Massive is a two-minute video that demonstrates how Europe will freeze due to the expensive cost of energy.
The video depicts a worker shutting off the gas supply, bringing the gas pressure indicator to zero.
The inoperable Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which Germany suspended as a deterrent against Russia’s incursion, is also shown in the film.
The video concludes with a shot of the Gazprom headquarters in St. Petersburg, displaying the Lakhta Centre, the highest structure in Europe.
The film was launched as Europe struggles to handle an energy crisis that might result in rolling blackouts, closed factories, and a severe economic downturn.
Russia cut off the continent’s access to the inexpensive natural gas it had relied on for decades to power industry, generate electricity, and heat homes.
Gazprom announced that Nord Stream 1, the primary pipeline transporting gas to Germany, will remain blocked, citing an oil leak and stating that the difficulties could not be resolved due to restrictions prohibiting many business transactions with Russia.
The video features a woman performing the classic bard song Winter will be Big by Yuri Vizbor in a foreboding tone.
The clip concludes with a sight of the Gazprom headquarters in St. Petersburg, displaying the Lakhta Centre, Europe’s tallest building.
The film depicts the EU headquarters and Russia maintains its energy conflict.
As the EU supports Ukraine against Russia’s invasion, European officials assert that Russia is using energy blackmail to pressure and divide the EU.
Vitaly Markelov, deputy CEO of Gazprom, told Reuters on Tuesday that Nord Stream 1 would not resume shipments until Siemens Energy rectified problematic equipment.
Siemens stated that it was unable to comprehend Gazprom’s explanation of the situation.
Maria Zakharova, a spokesperson for the Russian foreign ministry, blamed the United States for the energy crisis.
She stated that as a result, European leaders had taken the’suicidal’ decision of severing economic and energy ties with Moscow.
The inoperable Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which Germany delayed as a deterrent against Russia’s incursion, is also featured in the video.
Russia cut off the continent’s access to inexpensive natural gas on which it had relied for decades to power industry, generate electricity, and heat homes.
Due to the shutdown of the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, Russian gas exports have decreased by 89 percent compared to a year ago.
Russia used to contribute 40% of Europe’s natural gas, and even more to Germany, where inexpensive energy was a key economic pillar.
There is still some Russian gas going to Europe through a pipeline passing through Ukraine and Slovakia, as well as another pipeline crossing the Black Sea to Turkey and eventually EU member Bulgaria.
Russia began reducing gas production as early as last summer, before the Ukraine conflict began. Consequently, gas costs rose dramatically.
Then, Gazprom severed ties with a number of European nations after they responded to the onset of war by prohibiting several transactions with Russian banks, firms, and individuals.
In the previous few weeks, natural gas prices have reached record highs due to the decreases.
The film was launched as Europe struggles to handle an energy crisis that might result in rolling blackouts, closed factories, and a severe economic downturn.
Maria Zakharova, a spokesperson for the Russian foreign ministry, blamed the United States for the energy crisis.
Given Russia’s gradual reduction of gas supply since last summer, analysts say Europe must be prepared for a winter without Russian gas.
Even when Russia’s gas shipments decreased, soaring prices helped sustain the country’s income from these sales.
Initially, oil and gas imports were excluded from sanctions because of Europe’s reliance on Russian energy.
Europe has banned Russian coal and will ban the majority of Russian oil by year’s end.
According to the Helsinki-based Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, Russia’s export revenues from fossil fuels hit 158 billion euros from February to August.
However, oil has historically been the Kremlin’s primary source of revenue, and unlike gas in fixed pipes to Europe, it may be transported globally via tanker. And the gas tie with Europe may be permanently severed, along with any influence it may have brought.
Robert Habeck, vice-chancellor of Germany, stated that European gas flows no longer factor into his calculations. “The only trustworthy thing coming from Russia are falsehoods,”
Therefore, if Russian President Vladimir Putin believes he has leverage over gas, he is running out of time to utilize it.
Janis Kluge, an expert on the Russian economy at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, tweeted, “Russia has lost nothing it hadn’t already lost… this winter is the last chance to use the gas weapon, whether successfully or not.”