The German government has begun privatizing Securing Energy for Europe (Sefe), the former Gazprom subsidiary nationalized after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, with plans to raise between 1.5 and 2 billion euros ($1.6 billion to $2.2 billion) through a capital increase, according to Sefe CEO Egbert Laege in an interview with the Financial Times.
EU regulations require Germany to reduce its stake in Sefe to no more than 25 percent plus one share by 2028, following the company’s seizure two years ago amid sanctions on Russian energy assets.
Sefe intends to use the capital raised to strengthen its core gas infrastructure business, focusing on storage capacity and pipeline networks across Europe, with specific emphasis on expanding trade operations in British markets.
Company traces origins to Gazprom’s European arm
Sefe, formerly known as Wingas and later Gazprom Germania, was placed under temporary state control in April 2022 after Germany halted imports of Russian gas and placed the company under trusteeship to ensure energy security.
<!– /wp:paragraph> wp:heading>Ongoing conflict in Ukraine continues to shape energy policy
/wp:heading> wp:paragraph>In the Sumy region of northeastern Ukraine, Russian forces launched nearly 70 attacks across 23 settlements in 13 territorial communities within the last 24 hours, resulting in three civilian deaths according to Ukrainian authorities, with strikes concentrated in the Sumy and Shostka districts.
/wp:paragraph> wp:paragraph>Separate reports indicate a 75-year-old man was injured by drone strikes in Werchnyosyrowaska, an 86-year-old woman in Nedryhaylivska, and a 51-year-old man in Velykypysarivska, while Kyiv also recorded one civilian injury from a Russian attack, per Suspilne and Modern Voice of Ukraine.
/wp:paragraph> wp:html>Russia reduces military compensation amid budget strain
/wp:heading> wp:paragraph>In Russia, several regional authorities have begun cutting payments to military families due to budget deficits, including reducing one-time compensation for fallen soldiers in the Kemerovo region from 3 million to 1 million rubles ($32,500 to $10,800) in February 2026, a benefit unchanged since the war’s start, according to Radio Swoboda.
/wp:paragraph> wp:paragraph>Some cities are also scaling back childcare support and firewood subsidies for military households, with local officials citing financial pressures as the driving factor behind the reductions.
/wp:paragraph> wp:heading>Military discipline in Russia relies on non-legal coercion
/wp:heading> wp:paragraph>A military historian told Der Spiegel that without formal war status, Russia cannot apply military criminal law to deserters or refusers, leading commanders to rely on humiliating punishments such as stripping soldiers naked, binding them to trees, or confining them in pits without food or water for days.
/wp:paragraph> wp:heading>What is Sefe and why was it nationalized?
/wp:heading> wp:paragraph>Sefe, previously Gazprom Germania, is a German-based energy infrastructure company that manages gas storage and pipelines; it was placed under state control in 2022 after Germany severed ties with Russian gas suppliers following the invasion of Ukraine.
/wp:paragraph> wp:heading>How much money does Germany aim to raise from the Sefe privatization?
/wp:heading> wp:paragraph>The German government expects the capital increase at Sefe to generate between 1.5 and 2 billion euros ($1.6 billion to $2.2 billion), which the company plans to reinvest in infrastructure and trading operations, especially in the UK.
Company traces origins to Gazprom’s European arm
Sefe, formerly known as Wingas and later Gazprom Germania, was placed under temporary state control in April 2022 after Germany halted imports of Russian gas and placed the company under trusteeship to ensure energy security.
<!– /wp:paragraph> wp:heading>Ongoing conflict in Ukraine continues to shape energy policy
/wp:heading> wp:paragraph>In the Sumy region of northeastern Ukraine, Russian forces launched nearly 70 attacks across 23 settlements in 13 territorial communities within the last 24 hours, resulting in three civilian deaths according to Ukrainian authorities, with strikes concentrated in the Sumy and Shostka districts.
/wp:paragraph> wp:paragraph>Separate reports indicate a 75-year-old man was injured by drone strikes in Werchnyosyrowaska, an 86-year-old woman in Nedryhaylivska, and a 51-year-old man in Velykypysarivska, while Kyiv also recorded one civilian injury from a Russian attack, per Suspilne and Modern Voice of Ukraine.
/wp:paragraph> wp:html>Russia reduces military compensation amid budget strain
/wp:heading> wp:paragraph>In Russia, several regional authorities have begun cutting payments to military families due to budget deficits, including reducing one-time compensation for fallen soldiers in the Kemerovo region from 3 million to 1 million rubles ($32,500 to $10,800) in February 2026, a benefit unchanged since the war’s start, according to Radio Swoboda.
/wp:paragraph> wp:paragraph>Some cities are also scaling back childcare support and firewood subsidies for military households, with local officials citing financial pressures as the driving factor behind the reductions.
/wp:paragraph> wp:heading>Military discipline in Russia relies on non-legal coercion
/wp:heading> wp:paragraph>A military historian told Der Spiegel that without formal war status, Russia cannot apply military criminal law to deserters or refusers, leading commanders to rely on humiliating punishments such as stripping soldiers naked, binding them to trees, or confining them in pits without food or water for days.
/wp:paragraph> wp:heading>What is Sefe and why was it nationalized?
/wp:heading> wp:paragraph>Sefe, previously Gazprom Germania, is a German-based energy infrastructure company that manages gas storage and pipelines; it was placed under state control in 2022 after Germany severed ties with Russian gas suppliers following the invasion of Ukraine.
/wp:paragraph> wp:heading>How much money does Germany aim to raise from the Sefe privatization?
/wp:heading> wp:paragraph>The German government expects the capital increase at Sefe to generate between 1.5 and 2 billion euros ($1.6 billion to $2.2 billion), which the company plans to reinvest in infrastructure and trading operations, especially in the UK.
/wp:paragraph> /wp:paragraph –>Sefe intends to use the capital raised to strengthen its core gas infrastructure business, focusing on storage capacity and pipeline networks across Europe, with specific emphasis on expanding trade operations in British markets.
Company traces origins to Gazprom’s European arm
Sefe, formerly known as Wingas and later Gazprom Germania, was placed under temporary state control in April 2022 after Germany halted imports of Russian gas and placed the company under trusteeship to ensure energy security.
<!– /wp:paragraph> wp:heading>Ongoing conflict in Ukraine continues to shape energy policy
/wp:heading> wp:paragraph>In the Sumy region of northeastern Ukraine, Russian forces launched nearly 70 attacks across 23 settlements in 13 territorial communities within the last 24 hours, resulting in three civilian deaths according to Ukrainian authorities, with strikes concentrated in the Sumy and Shostka districts.
/wp:paragraph> wp:paragraph>Separate reports indicate a 75-year-old man was injured by drone strikes in Werchnyosyrowaska, an 86-year-old woman in Nedryhaylivska, and a 51-year-old man in Velykypysarivska, while Kyiv also recorded one civilian injury from a Russian attack, per Suspilne and Modern Voice of Ukraine.
/wp:paragraph> wp:html>Russia reduces military compensation amid budget strain
/wp:heading> wp:paragraph>In Russia, several regional authorities have begun cutting payments to military families due to budget deficits, including reducing one-time compensation for fallen soldiers in the Kemerovo region from 3 million to 1 million rubles ($32,500 to $10,800) in February 2026, a benefit unchanged since the war’s start, according to Radio Swoboda.
Some cities are also scaling back childcare support and firewood subsidies for military households, with local officials citing financial pressures as the driving factor behind the reductions.
/wp:paragraph> wp:heading>Military discipline in Russia relies on non-legal coercion
/wp:heading> wp:paragraph>A military historian told Der Spiegel that without formal war status, Russia cannot apply military criminal law to deserters or refusers, leading commanders to rely on humiliating punishments such as stripping soldiers naked, binding them to trees, or confining them in pits without food or water for days.
/wp:paragraph> wp:heading>What is Sefe and why was it nationalized?
/wp:heading> wp:paragraph>Sefe, previously Gazprom Germania, is a German-based energy infrastructure company that manages gas storage and pipelines; it was placed under state control in 2022 after Germany severed ties with Russian gas suppliers following the invasion of Ukraine.
/wp:paragraph> wp:heading>How much money does Germany aim to raise from the Sefe privatization?
/wp:heading> wp:paragraph>The German government expects the capital increase at Sefe to generate between 1.5 and 2 billion euros ($1.6 billion to $2.2 billion), which the company plans to reinvest in infrastructure and trading operations, especially in the UK.
/wp:paragraph> /wp:heading –>Sefe intends to use the capital raised to strengthen its core gas infrastructure business, focusing on storage capacity and pipeline networks across Europe, with specific emphasis on expanding trade operations in British markets.
Company traces origins to Gazprom’s European arm
Sefe, formerly known as Wingas and later Gazprom Germania, was placed under temporary state control in April 2022 after Germany halted imports of Russian gas and placed the company under trusteeship to ensure energy security.
<!– /wp:paragraph> wp:heading>Ongoing conflict in Ukraine continues to shape energy policy
/wp:heading> wp:paragraph>In the Sumy region of northeastern Ukraine, Russian forces launched nearly 70 attacks across 23 settlements in 13 territorial communities within the last 24 hours, resulting in three civilian deaths according to Ukrainian authorities, with strikes concentrated in the Sumy and Shostka districts.
/wp:paragraph> wp:paragraph>Separate reports indicate a 75-year-old man was injured by drone strikes in Werchnyosyrowaska, an 86-year-old woman in Nedryhaylivska, and a 51-year-old man in Velykypysarivska, while Kyiv also recorded one civilian injury from a Russian attack, per Suspilne and Modern Voice of Ukraine.
/wp:paragraph> wp:html>Russia reduces military compensation amid budget strain
/wp:heading> wp:paragraph>In Russia, several regional authorities have begun cutting payments to military families due to budget deficits, including reducing one-time compensation for fallen soldiers in the Kemerovo region from 3 million to 1 million rubles ($32,500 to $10,800) in February 2026, a benefit unchanged since the war’s start, according to Radio Swoboda.
/wp:paragraph> wp:paragraph>Some cities are also scaling back childcare support and firewood subsidies for military households, with local officials citing financial pressures as the driving factor behind the reductions.
/wp:paragraph> wp:heading>Military discipline in Russia relies on non-legal coercion
/wp:heading> wp:paragraph>A military historian told Der Spiegel that without formal war status, Russia cannot apply military criminal law to deserters or refusers, leading commanders to rely on humiliating punishments such as stripping soldiers naked, binding them to trees, or confining them in pits without food or water for days.
/wp:paragraph> wp:heading>What is Sefe and why was it nationalized?
/wp:heading> wp:paragraph>Sefe, previously Gazprom Germania, is a German-based energy infrastructure company that manages gas storage and pipelines; it was placed under state control in 2022 after Germany severed ties with Russian gas suppliers following the invasion of Ukraine.
/wp:paragraph> wp:heading>How much money does Germany aim to raise from the Sefe privatization?
/wp:heading> wp:paragraph>The German government expects the capital increase at Sefe to generate between 1.5 and 2 billion euros ($1.6 billion to $2.2 billion), which the company plans to reinvest in infrastructure and trading operations, especially in the UK.
/wp:paragraph> /wp:paragraph –>The funds will primarily support Sefe’s infrastructure expansion, including gas storage facilities, pipelines, and trading activities, particularly in the United Kingdom, Laege said.
Privatization proceeds earmarked for infrastructure growth
Sefe intends to use the capital raised to strengthen its core gas infrastructure business, focusing on storage capacity and pipeline networks across Europe, with specific emphasis on expanding trade operations in British markets.
Company traces origins to Gazprom’s European arm
Sefe, formerly known as Wingas and later Gazprom Germania, was placed under temporary state control in April 2022 after Germany halted imports of Russian gas and placed the company under trusteeship to ensure energy security.
<!– /wp:paragraph> wp:heading>Ongoing conflict in Ukraine continues to shape energy policy
/wp:heading> wp:paragraph>In the Sumy region of northeastern Ukraine, Russian forces launched nearly 70 attacks across 23 settlements in 13 territorial communities within the last 24 hours, resulting in three civilian deaths according to Ukrainian authorities, with strikes concentrated in the Sumy and Shostka districts.
/wp:paragraph> wp:paragraph>Separate reports indicate a 75-year-old man was injured by drone strikes in Werchnyosyrowaska, an 86-year-old woman in Nedryhaylivska, and a 51-year-old man in Velykypysarivska, while Kyiv also recorded one civilian injury from a Russian attack, per Suspilne and Modern Voice of Ukraine.
/wp:paragraph> wp:html>Russia reduces military compensation amid budget strain
/wp:heading> wp:paragraph>In Russia, several regional authorities have begun cutting payments to military families due to budget deficits, including reducing one-time compensation for fallen soldiers in the Kemerovo region from 3 million to 1 million rubles ($32,500 to $10,800) in February 2026, a benefit unchanged since the war’s start, according to Radio Swoboda.
/wp:paragraph> wp:paragraph>Some cities are also scaling back childcare support and firewood subsidies for military households, with local officials citing financial pressures as the driving factor behind the reductions.
/wp:paragraph> wp:heading>Military discipline in Russia relies on non-legal coercion
/wp:heading> wp:paragraph>A military historian told Der Spiegel that without formal war status, Russia cannot apply military criminal law to deserters or refusers, leading commanders to rely on humiliating punishments such as stripping soldiers naked, binding them to trees, or confining them in pits without food or water for days.
/wp:paragraph> wp:heading>What is Sefe and why was it nationalized?
/wp:heading> wp:paragraph>Sefe, previously Gazprom Germania, is a German-based energy infrastructure company that manages gas storage and pipelines; it was placed under state control in 2022 after Germany severed ties with Russian gas suppliers following the invasion of Ukraine.
/wp:paragraph> wp:heading>How much money does Germany aim to raise from the Sefe privatization?
/wp:heading> wp:paragraph>The German government expects the capital increase at Sefe to generate between 1.5 and 2 billion euros ($1.6 billion to $2.2 billion), which the company plans to reinvest in infrastructure and trading operations, especially in the UK.
/wp:paragraph> /wp:paragraph –>
