Ukraine readies for winter without Russian gas

Ukrainians are working to insulate walls, seal up windows and buy heating equipment for winter this year because of the halt in gas supplies from Russia.

Russia cut off supplies in June, after the two countries failed to reach an agreement on Ukraine’s gas bill.

{mosads}Now, Ukraine is worried the gas it does have stored will not be enough to last through the winter, the Associated Press reports.

“People are afraid they will turn off the gas supply entirely,” said Alexei Polezhai, who sells water heaters and wood-burning stoves.

Russia’s energy stranglehold on Ukraine spurred calls in Congress for the U.S. to export more natural gas to its allies.

The Energy Department says it is working expeditiously, and streamlined its process earlier this year to approve export facilities that were close to being online.

Additionally, the House passed a bill to expedite exports to non-Free Trade Agreement countries. The Senate has yet to move on similar legislation.