KIEV — Ukrainian state energy firm Naftogaz has accused Russia's Gazprom of failing to supply gas that Kiev had paid for in advance, days after Moscow said it was sending some supplies for Ukraine directly to regions held by rebels.
A dispute over Russian gas supplies and pricing for Ukraine has played out behind the scenes throughout the past year while Ukrainian forces have battled pro-Russian separatists in a war that has killed more than 5,600.
After cutting off Ukraine's gas for six months, Moscow resumed supplies in late-2014 when the two sides signed an interim agreement, under which Kiev would pay off some debt for past deliveries and pre-pay for supplies for the winter.
Naftogaz said Monday that the Russian firm had broken this deal by delivering only 47 million cubic meters (mcm) of a 114 mcm order that Kiev had paid for in advance last Thursday.
The Ukrainian company said it had sent a notice of the breach of contract to the Ukrainian government and the European Commission in Brussels which had helped broker the deal. Russia is Europe's main gas supplier, and the EU is keen to ensure that supplies that transit Ukraine are not interrupted.
Last week Ukraine cut back supplies of gas to regions held by pro-Russian rebels, and Moscow began supplying gas to the separatist regions directly for the first time.
A Gazprom spokesman said at the time that the supplies to the rebel regions were being shipped under the contract with Naftogaz. Gazprom and Russian officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
