Gazprom 'hopes search of Naftogaz office will not disrupt gas payments'

Gazprom "is concerned by the searching of Naftogaz Ukrainy's central office by the Ukrainian Security Service on Wednesday," a source at the Russian state gas company has told journalists.

"Hopefully, these events will have no effect, fully or partially, on Naftogaz Ukrainy's obligation to pay for Russian gas supplied to Ukraine in February," the Gazprom official said.

Ukraine must pay for Russian gas supplied in February before March 7, otherwise, further supplies will made only if Ukraine pays in advance, according to agreements struck between the two countries' gas companies.