Photo from UNIAN
Ukraine has reduced daily consumption of gas by 25% as compared to last year, which helps save up to $11 million every day, Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said during the "10 Minutes with the Prime Minister" TV program, the government's press service reported.
"During the heating season Ukraine will additionally save $2 billion, which was previously spent on payments to Russia's Gazprom and which Russia used to buy tanks, supply weapons and send fighters amid its military aggression against Ukraine," the Prime Minister said.
Yatsenyuk also noted there was speculation that the government's energy reform would unlikely to bring any results and that there was not enough gas in the underground gas storage facilities for the current winter season.
"As a result, every day we consume 25% less gas than last year. Every day we pay $11 million less for gas," Yatsenyuk said.
Yatsenyuk stated that the average price of gas for Ukraine on the European market is $250 per 1,000 cubic meters.
"We have filled our gas storage facilities. We have paid off our debts. We have filed a lawsuit against Russia in connection with an unfair gas contract and an unfair contract for natural gas transit supplies through Ukraine," the premier said.
"We were warned that due to the energy sector reform and the introduction of market-oriented and well-balanced tariffs, people would not have heat in their houses, nor would they be able to pay such bills. We have introduced an energy subsidy program, which has become a reality despite few people had trust in it," Yatsenyuk stressed.
He noted that about five million Ukrainian families, which is nearly 15 million people, get direct benefits from the government "to ensure payment of market-oriented and balanced tariffs."
"And those who have high income should learn to save and pay with their own means, and not at the expense of those less privileged," Yatsenyuk added.