Germany missed its official target for gas storage capacity by November 1, filling reserves to just 61.5% compared to the government’s 80% requirement. Meanwhile, Russian Vice Prime Minister Alexander Novak revealed that Russian diesel continues entering European markets re-branded under alternative labels despite EU trade sanctions.
Global market
Germany failed to meet its national gas storage filling target of 80% by November 1, accumulating only 61.5% of capacity, according to the German Energy Storage Initiative (INES). In contrast, Slovakia secured gas reserves sufficient to cover 42% of its winter consumption, exceeding the European Union’s mandated 35% threshold. At the G20 foreign ministers meeting in Atlanta, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov cited energy supply chain stability and open maritime navigation as essential prerequisites for global economic security. In US legal news, a Florida federal court definitively dismissed Donald Trump’s $10 billion defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal.
Russia & CIS
Russian diesel fuel continues reaching European markets under re-branded labels despite the EU import embargo, according to Russian Vice Prime Minister Alexander Novak, who noted that underground gas storage levels across Europe remain historically low. In pipeline transit, Russian gas exports to Europe via TurkStream rose 0.8% year-to-date to 14.817 billion cubic meters over the first 10 months of 2026, despite a year-on-year drop in October shipments. Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces launched five artillery strikes against Enerhodar, causing no casualties.
Armenia
Statements by Russian Vice Prime Minister Alexander Novak regarding diesel flows to Europe and low European gas reserves highlight ongoing structural supply imbalances. Despite the year-on-year decline in October TurkStream gas transit and Germany’s gas storage deficit, retail prices for petrol, diesel, and compressed natural gas in Armenia remain stable. Direct natural gas imports from Russia and electricity generation at the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant continue at full capacity under long-term EAEU contracts, shielding the domestic fuel market from global price shocks recorded in international market price assessments.