OREANDA-NEWS. Naftogaz would like to highlight the systematic gas pressure failures in the Russian gas transmission system at key entry points to Ukraine (see diagrams below). By reducing pressure at the entry points, Gazprom substantially complicates the fulfillment of its own requests for gas transportation to Europe.

Because of the inadequate gas pressure regime, the gas inflow from the Russian territory is insufficient to cover volumes requested by European consumers.

Ukrtransgaz, Ukraine's transmission system operator, has to substantially adjust the system's operations to balance the transit, and incurs extra costs.

In June 2014, Gazprom's subsidiary Gazprom Export cancelled the balancing contract which provided for the compensation by Ukrtransgaz of daily gas demand fluctuations of Gazprom's clients in the EU.

The gas pressure issues on the Russian side pose technical challenges to the stability of the Russian gas supply to the EU. Naftogaz has suggested a monitoring mission is formed by the European Commission to examine the situation on the ground.