Natural gas prices in Europe surged by 4.8% during Thursday's trading session, surpassing $450 per 1,000 cubic meters, marking a new high for the year, according to data from London's ICE.

September futures at the TTF hub in the Netherlands rose to $454.6 per 1,000 cubic meters, equivalent to 40.31 euros per MWh. Investor concerns are mounting over the stability of gas transit through Ukraine, following reports of a large-scale Ukrainian military attack on Russia's Kursk Region.

The Sudzha gas metering station in the Kursk Region remains the only route for Russian gas supplies to Central and Western Europe after the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines.