The gas transportation system of Ukraine (GTS of Ukraine). Photo courtesy of Gas Transmission System Operator of Ukraine official website.
The Ukrainian GTS made the announcement Tuesday in a statement posted to its website. It said that the war made it impossible to reach areas of its system to ensure its safety, particularly in Russian-held areas of the Luhansk region.
The company said it would halt some 32.6 million cubic meters of gas per day with the decision. It described the situation as ``force majeure,'' a legal term used for so-called ``acts of God'' that prevent contracts from being carried out.
It said the shutoff would begin at 7 a.m. Wednesday and that it would offer Russia the chance to try to reroute gas through another crossing held by the Ukrainian government.
The operator said: ``The company repeatedly informed Gazprom about gas transit threats due to the actions of the Russian-controlled occupation forces and stressed stopping interference in the operation of the facilities, but these appeals were ignored.''
There was no immediate reaction from Moscow yet.
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