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Russia’s Gazprom threatens Europe gas cuts through Ukraine

  • The energy giant says that fuel meant for Moldova is not ending up in the ex-Soviet republic, a claim denied by both Moldova and Ukraine
  • Russia has been accused of energy blackmail, and the threat marks the latest escalation in a series of supply cuts

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The Gazprom logo is seen on a branch of the Russian state-owned company in St Petersburg in March. Photo: dpa

Russian energy giant Gazprom has threatened to reduce natural gas supplies through the last pipeline heading to Europe via Ukraine, saying the amount it is supplying for Moldova is not ending up in the former Soviet republic.

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Gazprom says the gas company of Europe’s poorest country, Moldovagaz, paid for part of its November flows of gas under its contract. It added that nearly 25 million cubic meters has been supplied this month but not paid for.

The Russian state-owned company tweeted that if “the imbalance observed during the transit of gas to the Moldovan consumers across Ukraine continues”, Gazprom “will start reducing its gas supplies” through Ukraine starting on Monday.

Both Moldova and Ukraine hit back at Gazprom, with Ukraine saying all supplies that Russia sent through the country were “fully transferred” to Moldova.

“This is not the first time that Russia resorts to using gas as a tool of political pressure. This is a gross manipulation of facts in order to justify the decision to further limit the volume of gas supplies to European countries,” said Olha Belkova of the Gas Transmission System Operator of Ukraine.

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