Russia halts gas supplies to Ukraine

• 25 November 2015
• From the section Europe

Russian energy giant Gazprom says it has halted gas deliveries to Ukraine after the Ukrainian government failed to pay for supplies in advance.

Gazprom chief executive Alexei Miller said Ukraine had used up all the gas it had paid for.

He warned that Ukraine’s failure to buy more gas would create risks for onward shipment to the rest of Europe.

Gas shipments have been repeatedly cut off since the conflict between Russia and Ukraine began last year.

They resumed last month.

In a statement, Mr Miller said that “deliveries have been stopped until the receipt of new payments from the Ukrainian company”.

“The refusal to buy Russian gas will create serious risks for the reliable transit of gas to Europe through Ukraine and for the supply of gas to Ukrainian consumers during the upcoming winter,” he added.

Russia cut off gas to Ukraine in June 2014 as the conflict between the government in Kiev and pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine escalated.

However, it resumed them following a deal under which Ukraine switched to a pre-payment system.

About 15% of gas used in Europe travels through Ukraine. The EU has been holding talks aimed at keeping supplies running between the two sides.