“Implementation of the provisions set forth in the Ukraine – EU declaration recently adopted in Brussels and targeted at Ukraine’s gas transmission system upgrading stipulates changes in its operational mode. Taking into account the extent of the integration between our gas transmission systems as well as the fact that Ukraine’s gas transmission system operation is an integral part of Gazprom’s export supplies and related contracts, Gazprom has the obligation to sanction any actions in connection with changes in the throughput capacity of Ukraine’s export pipelines. Furthermore, the Ukrainian gas transmission system is fully synchronized with the Unified Gas Supply System of Russia. This is explained by the initial concept to create these systems as an integrated technological complex of gas production and transmission in the former Soviet Union.

In this context, non-sanctioned operational changes in Ukraine’s gas transmission system will have an immediate impact on both the export contracts and of Russian and Central Asian gas production, which may entail unpredictable effects across the entire Eurasian region.

It is obvious that adequate performance of the gas supply system can only be ensured through coordination of the entire process chains and stages from gas production and transportation to consumption. There are no alternative solutions here,” Oleg Aksyutin, Member of the Management Committee, Head of the Gas Transportation, Underground Storage and Utilization Department of Gazprom told reporters.