On the morning of January 15, 2025, Russian forces launched an airstrike on Ukraine’s largest underground gas storage facility, located in the Lviv region.
The Bilche-Volitsko-Uhersky underground storage, situated in the city of Stryi, was one of the primary targets of this precision strike.
Explosive Attack with High-Precision Weapons
The attack was carried out using high-precision weapons, according to the Ukrainian Defence Ministry.
It was a direct response to recent Ukrainian missile strikes deep into Russian territory using long-range ATACMS and Storm Shadow missiles.
Additionally, this strike came in retaliation for a recent Ukrainian assault on the Russkaya compressor station, which is crucial for pumping natural gas through the TurkStream pipeline.
Damage to Energy Infrastructure and Facility Operations
Maksym Kozytsky, the head of the Lviv regional administration, confirmed that the underground gas storage facility was hit, along with other energy infrastructure in the region.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also stated that the Russian attack focused on Ukraine’s critical gas and energy infrastructure.
Despite the significant damage caused to the facility’s ground equipment, Verkhovna Rada deputy Serhiy Nagornyak reassured the public that the storage facility itself is still operational.
He explained that due to its deep underground location, fully destroying the facility is a difficult task.
A Repeat Target for Russian Strikes
It is worth noting that the Bilche-Volitsko-Uhersky underground gas storage facility had previously been targeted by Russian forces in August 2024.
