In the recent days the media of a number of foreign countries informed about shortages of contract supplies of the natural gas from the Russian Federation related to the extreme cold on the most part of the European continent. In particular, such a situation happened to consumers in Italy, Germany, Austria, Hungary and Turkey.

However, the Russian OJSC “Gazprom” groundlessly declared that Ukraine, through the territory of which the Russian natural gas is being transited, extract the overlimit amount of gas for her own needs.

In this regard, on February 2, 2012 the National Joint-Stock Company “Naftogaz of Ukraine” published the Press Release indicating that the JSC “Naftogaz of Ukraine” guarantees the fulfillment of natural gas supply schedules to the consumers of Europe and Ukraine.

The Company also stated that the volumes of natural gas transit through the territory of Ukraine and the volumes of imported natural gas extraction are at the level, defined by the contract with Gazprom OJSC. Natural gas consumption increase in Ukraine, related to heavy frosts, is compensated only by the natural gas extraction from the Ukrainian underground gas-storages.

Enclosure: Press Release of the JSC “Naftogaz of Ukraine”