Ukraine says Russia increased gas pipeline pressure without prior notice

Russian gas giant Gazprom (GAZP.MM) has sharply increased pressure in the Urengoy-Pomary-Uzhgorod pipeline that delivers Russian gas to Europe without prior notice, the Ukrainian state pipeline operator company said on Tuesday.

Such pressure spikes could lead to emergencies including pipeline ruptures, and pipeline operators are obliged to inform each other about them in advance, the Ukrainian company said.

“Failing to inform the operator in a timely manner carries potential risks to the normal operation of the pipeline,” it said without making it clear whether such operations were currently at risk.

Gazprom could not be immediately reached for comment.