The process of pumping fuel from tanks of Odesa oil refinery started on Thursday.

Deputy Director General of Odesa oil refinery Vasyl Ponomarenko told reporters that fuel is being pumped via a pipeline to the territory of Sintez Oil company.

"A person came to the head of the fuel storage section and said that he is a new owner, state enterprise Ukrtransnaftoprodukt. He categorically offered that the fuel pumping line is assembled connecting to the lower site of Sintez Oil belonging to Privat Group. No contacts were made with the administration of the refinery," he said.

Unknown persons with guns controlled the assembly of the line and the pumping process.

Odesa oil refinery said that the pipeline used for fuel pumping was not used for five years, and there is a risk of oil spill.

Sintez Oil has not commented on the situation.

The press service of Prosecutor General's Office in Odesa region reported that fuel is being pumped as a part of the pretrial investigation and under a court ruling. Prosecutor General's Office said that fuel is sent to Ukrtransnaftoprodukt for storage.