MOSCOW - Ukraine took Russian gas intended for European consumers at the beginning of this year, Gazprom (RTS: GAZP) CEO Alexei Miller said during a meeting with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Wednesday.
Abnormally cold temperatures in Europe caused European consumers to step up their requests for Russian gas supplies, he said.
"However, a significant amount of Russian gas sent to European consumers never got there. On certain days, up to 40 million cubic meters of gas remained on Ukrainian territory," Miller said.
He added that "this inflicted financial and reputational damage on Gazprom."
Yesterday a Gazprom source told Interfax that Ukraine took roughly 438.3 million cubic meters (mcm) of gas transiting to Europe during Feb. 1-15.
"Our Ukrainian partners took as much gas from the export pipe as they thought necessary. And they took gas that was destined for European consumers, and our Ukrainian partners knew about this," Miller told the president.
Medvedev pointed out that all cases of unsanctioned tapping of gas have to be pursued. "You naturally, in the context of corporate procedures and the civil law contracts that connect you with Ukraine have to get to the bottom of all of these events," he said.
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