View shows valves, pipes and pressure gauge at a gas compressor station near Uzhhorod, Ukraine, October 7, 2021. REUTERS / Gleb Garanich
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Kyiv, May 12 (Reuters) – Ukraine will not reopen the Sohranovka gas transit route from Russia to Europe until Kyiv gains full control of its pipeline system, the head of the GTSOU operator told Reuters on Thursday.
The company on Tuesday announced force majeure, citing the theft of gas by Russian-backed separatists and halted flows through Sohranovka, which accounts for nearly a third of Russia’s gas through Ukraine to Europe.
The pipeline passes through Ukraine’s Luhansk region, part of which has been controlled by Russian-backed separatists since 2014.
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“We will not open. Until full control over the asset,” GTSOU chief Sergei Makogon said in written comments.
He said Russian state gas producer Gazprom (GAZP.MM) did not know that the separatists had started stealing gas passing through Ukraine.
“I don’t think Gazprom knew that (the separatists) started stealing transit gas from us.”
Makogon said Gazprom could still deliver all its quantities to Europe using the Suja transit route, which remains open.
Gazprom was not immediately available for comment.
The company said it was not technologically possible to divert all its supplies through Sudzha, a statement Kyiv said was untrue.
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Report by Pavel Polityuk Written by Tom Balmfort Edited by Mark Potter
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