The State Service for Geology and Deposits of Ukraine hinders operations of national joint-stock company Naftogaz Ukrainy and its subsidiaries, Naftogaz Board Chairman Andriy Kobolev has said.

"They not only stop extending Ukrnafta's licenses under a court ruling, but they take away licenses from Naftogaz and do not extend licenses of Ukrgazvydobuvannia," he told reporters on the sidelines of the 14th annual YES conference held on September 15 and September 16 in Kyiv.

Kobolev said that on September 14, 2017, the court of lowest instance issued a ruling initiated by the State Service for Geology and Deposits and suspended some licenses.

"We will fight," he said.

He found it difficult to say why the authority suspends the licenses.

Commenting on the situation in the State Service for Geology and Deposits, Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman said that the system should be reorganized and made transparent. He also said that he is ready to support Ukrgazvydobuvannia in boosting production.

"You know that I support Ukrgazvydobuvannia. Otherwise how would they reach growth in production by 600-700 million cubic meters a year? They would have produced no cubic meter without my help," he said.