Russia Shifts Gas Transit from Ukraine

The transit of Russian gas to Europe via Ukraine has fallen by half to 200 million cubic meters from the planned 400 million cubic meters in the past two days.

Vadim Chuprun, Deputy Board Chairman of Ukraine's Naftogaz released the information on Friday.

"Yesterday short deliveries [from Russia] amounted to 180 million cubic meters... while today they stood at 200 million cu m," Chuprun said.

Gazprom confirmed that commenced redirecting natural gas volumes bound for Europe from Ukrainian gas transportation system to alternative routes including Nord Stream pipeline and Belarus' pipeline system.

Gazprom controls Belarusian national gas pipeline operator Beltransgaz.

“We are at the start of a big move to redistribute gas transit volumes from Ukraine to our Beltransgaz unit and new undersea pipelines,” said Gazprom spokesman.Sergei Kupriyanov.

Upwards of 80% of Russia’s gas exports to Europe have traditionally transited through Ukraine 's pipeline system.  Gazprom did not indicate if the shift was as the result of reduced demand, or as part of Gazprom's longer term strategy to control the delivery of its gas exports, including the development of the South Stream gas pipeline.