Pipelines and the path to an energy crisis in Europe, as seen in 5 charts

The months-long war in Ukraine has had repercussions well beyond the battlefield, as the wider continent of Europe has had to contend with energy and economic shocks stemming from the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

This has included nearby nationshaving to rethink their energy supply arrangements, with the European Union (EU) having relied on Russia for 40 per cent of its natural gas, despite concerns thatthe setup carried risks.

ButRussia'sinvasion of Ukraineprompted the West to enact a series of sanctions which led topushback from Moscow, includingdemands that "unfriendly" countries pay for their gas in rubles.

Russia has also curtailed its shipments of natural gas to Europe spurring thosenations to seek a new course.

The key Nord Stream pipelines that carry natural gas through the Baltic Sea from Russia to Germany have been the focus of much debate and concern during the war in Ukraine.

First, theNord Stream 1saw service interruptions and reductions to its output and was later shut off in August, with Russiacitingtechnical problems as the reason for the halt in operations.German officials rejected that explanation, saying it was likely done inretaliation for sanctions imposed after Russia'sinvasion of Ukraine.

Since then, both Nord Stream 1and the not-yet-operationalNord Stream 2, have seen damage fromapparent sabotage, with seismologists saying explosions rattled the Baltic Sea beforeunusual leaks were discoveredearlier in Septemberon two pipelines running from Russia to Germany.

Europe has accused Russia of weaponizing energy supplies, though Russian President Vladimir Putin has denied his country is responsiblefor thecontinent's energy crisis, instead blaming what he called "the green agenda" and suggesting that lifting sanctions would solve Europe's energyproblems.

"The bottom line isif it's so hard for you, just lift the sanctions on Nord Stream 2," Putin said while speaking to reporters after the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Uzbekistan in mid-September."Just push the button and everything will get going."

Because ofthisuncertainty, the price of natural gas has soared, now sitting roughly three times what it was before Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The Europeanenergy crisis hasprompted nations to begin stockpiling gas well before winter. As of late September, The Associated Press reported that European countrieshave filled storage facilities to 87 per cent of their capacity.

Despite efforts to be prepared, there are concernsabout how people, businesses and economieswill fare in the months ahead.

The EU has also madeplans to reduce gas consumption, as a buttress against drops in supply, with governments committing to lower gas use by 15 per cent. This means the Eiffel Tower will plunge into darkness over an hour earlier than normal, while shops and buildings shut off lights at night andlowerthermostats.

Members are also lookingtoward other suppliers such as Norway, with Germany now buying more natural gasfrom the nordic country.