A pipeline located just south of Kiev caught fire on Monday. Investigators had not ruled out foul play, but said it could have been ignited by a leak in the ageing Soviet-built pipeline. The energy ministry said the supplies had been redirected to parallel pipelines.

Ukraine’s vast gas pipeline system transports the lion’s share of Russian and Central Asian gas supplies to Europe, which fills a third of its gas needs with supplies from Russia’s Gazprom. The pipeline affected handles one eight of supplies pumped via Ukraine to Europe.

“At the moment we are increasing transit through alternative routes and boosting supplies from underground storage facilities near the border with Europe,” Mr Borodin added.

PIN/BIZNES.ONET.PL