Russia's actions deepening the energy crisis in 2021 as part of a multi-directional pressure on the European Union

In 2021, we were faced with a combination of several factors influencing the increase in the prices of energy raw materials and, consequently, with a number of unfavorable economic phenomena, from a significant increase in the prices of electricity and heat, through increasing costs of running a business, to inflationary pressure. The failure to fill gas storage facilities in the EU differed from the actions of the Russian authorities observed in previous years. The lack of sales of additional volumes of gas deviates from the standard behavior of business entities aimed at maximizing profits during booms in their goods/services. Russia's actions on the European gas market in the second half of 2021 are part of the pattern of using energy resources as a pressure tool to achieve political goals. The article tries to answer the question: what pressure tools did Russia have at its disposal in 2021 to stimulate the energy crisis in the EU? What actions or omissions led to Russia gaining a dominant position on the EU gas market? The basic research method adopted in the article is a critical analysis of the collected materials, supplemented with forecasting, comparative and systemic analysis methods.