Gazprom: Ukraine Shamelessly Stealing Russian Gas

02.01.2009 17:22

Gazprom Spokesman Sergey Kupriyanov claimed that Ukraine actually confessed that its illegally pumps out Russian gas during its transit via the Ukrainian territory.

"As you know the leadership of Ukrainian Naftogaz officially claimed in public that it pumps out 21 million cubic meters out of the transit pipelines. Thus, the Ukrainian side confessed that it is shamelessly steals the gas”, said Kupriyanov.

Earlier on Thursday Gazprom completely stopped gas supplies to Ukraine due to expiration of the contract term. Ukraine is a transit country. Meanwhile Russia continues to supply gas in full volumes to Europe.

Head of Ukrainian Naftogaz Oleg Dubina said that his company reduced the volumes of the transited Russian gas by 21 million cubic meters a day. He explained such actions by the need to use this gas to provide for full transit in the absence of signed contracts.