Ukraine denies withholding Russian gas meant for Moldova

Ukraine additionally mentioned Moscow was utilizing fuel as a ‘political’ instrument after Russia’s Gazprom accused Kyiv of withholding volumes of it.

Ukraine denied an assertion by Russian state fuel firm Gazprom that Ukraine had withheld fuel meant for Moldova, and accused Russia of utilizing fuel as a political instrument to restrict provides to Europe.

Accusing Ukraine of maintaining volumes of fuel that have been destined for Moldova, Gazprom mentioned it might begin decreasing fuel provides to Moldova by way of Ukraine from November 28.

The allegations are the newest level of pressure over vitality deliveries between Kyiv, European capitals and Moscow, which has decreased consignments to Europe in response to Western sanctions over Russia’s nine-month invasion of Ukraine.

“Russia isn’t the primary to make use of fuel as a instrument of political stress. It is a gross manipulation of details with a view to justify the choice to additional restrict the quantity of fuel provides to European international locations,” the Gasoline Transmission System Operator of Ukraine (GTSOU) mentioned in a press release on Tuesday.

It mentioned all-natural fuel “accepted from the Russian Federation on the entry level ‘Sudzha’ for additional transportation to Moldovan customers have been transferred to the exit factors … to Moldova within the full quantity”.

Moldova’s president warned her nation on Monday to brace for a harsh winter because it faces an vitality disaster, with Russia’s struggle in Ukraine threatening vitality provides and pushing up costs.

GTSOU mentioned Gazprom wished to deprive Moldova, a tiny former Soviet republic bordering Ukraine, of the chance to make use of the Ukrainian fuel transmission system and Ukrainian underground fuel storage amenities, rising its dependence on Russian fuel at the beginning of the heating season.

Ukrainian state vitality firm Naftogaz added on Twitter: “Gazprom accused Ukraine of stealing fuel as soon as once more. Briefly: this isn’t true.”

Ukraine is struggling a extreme vitality disaster within the wake of weeks of persistent Russian assaults on its vitality grid, which has additionally led to blackouts in neighbouring Moldova.