Institute of Central Europe/Eastern Team

Zespół: Eastern Team

Eastern Team

IEŚ Commentaries 1708
30 September 2026
Jakub Olchowski - Eastern Team

Russia’s pressure on Europe. Between sabotage and disinformation

Russia’s actions targeting Europe are increasingly extending beyond isolated acts of sabotage, cyberattacks, or disinformation campaigns. Their significance lies in the combination of various instruments within a broader strategy aimed at weakening the West and curtailing its support for Ukraine. However, the response from European states remains largely reactive; the initiative...

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Eastern Team

IEŚ Commentaries 1697
10 September 2026
Michał Paszkowski - Eastern Team

Low Natural Gas Storage Levels in Europe Ahead of the Winter Season

In early September 2026, the European natural gas market entered the final phase of the storage injection season with inventories significantly below the levels recorded in previous years. On 1 September, natural gas storage facilities in the European Union were at 65.4% of capacity, compared with 77.7% the previous year and 92.4% two years earlier. This means that Europe is...

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Eastern Team

IEŚ Commentaries 1693
3 September 2026
Michał Paszkowski - Eastern Team

U.S. Sanctions and the Insolvency Proceedings of Romania’s Petrotel Refinery

Romania’s Petrotel refinery, owned by the Russian energy company Lukoil, entered into insolvency proceedings at the end of August 2026. The decision of the Ploiești Tribunal, which has jurisdiction over Prahova County, followed nearly a year of inactivity at the facility after Lukoil was placed under U.S. sanctions in the autumn of 2025. State supervision over the assets as...

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Eastern Team

IEŚ Commentaries 1689
28 August 2026
Bartłomiej Krzysztan | Michał Paszkowski - Eastern Team

The Middle Corridor perspective: opportunities and challenges

After 2022, political momentum behind the development of the Middle Corridor gained pace. While it is a project with considerable potential in transport, economic and energy terms, its actual expansion and competitiveness are dependent on a multitude of challenges and risks. In the energy sphere, the corridor’s importance lies primarily in diversifying supply routes for...

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Eastern Team

IEŚ Commentaries 1679
11 August 2026
Michał Paszkowski - Eastern Team

Operation of refineries in Central Europe during a period of low water levels on the Danube

Low water levels on the Danube have caused logistical disruptions to fuel transportation in Central and South-Eastern Europe. Reduced barge loading capacity has forced some deliveries to be redirected to rail and road transport, increasing both costs and pressure on inventory levels. Despite these difficulties, the main refineries located along the Danube continue to operate...

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Eastern Team

IEŚ Commentaries 1674
3 August 2026
Michał Paszkowski - Eastern Team

Impact of Low Water Levels in the Danube on Electricity Generation in Europe

At the end of July 2026, record-low water levels in the Danube, combined with heatwaves and drought, constrained the operation of power plants in Central and South-Eastern Europe. The crisis demonstrated that even stable energy sources, including nuclear power plants, are vulnerable to the effects of extreme weather events and limited availability of water used for cooling. Within...

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Eastern Team

IEŚ Commentaries 1670
24 July 2026
Jakub Olchowski - Eastern Team

Ukraine: the price of centralisation of power

The reshuffle of Ukraine’s government in July 2026 proved to be much more than a personnel change. The dismissal of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov triggered the largest political crisis since the beginning of the full-scale war, revealing the growing tensions between state efficiency and the logic of concentrating power in the presidential center. These events could have...

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Eastern Team

IEŚ Commentaries 1669
23 July 2026
Michał Paszkowski - Eastern Team

The Neptun Deep Project and the Changing Architecture of the Natural Gas Market in South-Eastern Europe

Neptun Deep is one of the most important energy projects currently under development in the European part of the Black Sea. Its launch, planned for 2027, could significantly alter Romania’s position in the natural gas market. The project, implemented by OMV Petrom and Romgaz, is expected to increase domestic production, strengthen Romania’s energy security, and create new...

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Eastern Team

IEŚ Commentaries 1656
8 July 2026
Michał Paszkowski - Eastern Team

Effectiveness of Ukrainian attacks on Russia’s oil and fuel infrastructure

Ukrainian strikes on Russia’s oil and fuel infrastructure are no longer limited to isolated sabotage or military operations; they are now producing measurable economic and organisational effects. A series of attacks on refineries, fuel depots, transhipment terminals, and elements of transmission infrastructure have led to reduced operations at some facilities, disruptions in...

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Eastern Team

IEŚ Commentaries 1652
2 July 2026
Michał Paszkowski - Eastern Team

European Union Sanctions on Russian Natural Gas Supplies in the Context of the Security of Central European Countries

The entry into force of successive EU restrictions on imports of Russian natural gas is intended to complete the process of phasing out supplies from Russia and to permanently reshape the structure of the European market for this commodity. The REPowerEU regulation, adopted in early 2026, provides for a gradual phase-out of imports: from a ban on concluding new contracts, through...

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