Naftogaz denies Russian reports on gas supplies to Henichesk from occupied Crimea

Kobolev said NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine would issue an official comment on the matter shortly.

Previously, some Russian media published information that Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered to consider a possibility of Russian gas supplies to the port city of Henichevsk in Ukraine's Kherson region at the request of the city mayor amid heavy frosts.

"On behalf of the residents of Henichevsk, against the background of cold temperatures the city has been experiencing in recent days, the mayor asked Russia to ensure supplies of gas in order not to let the city residents freeze," presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov said being quoted by Russian news agency TASS.

Read alsoRussia offers Ukraine discounted gas price at about $212 until March 31"Vladimir Putin has studied the appeal and, proceeding from humanitarian considerations, ordered to go through a possibility of such supplies so as to help Henichevsk residents live through heavy frosts," Peskov said.

At the same time, Oleksandr Tulupov, a mayor of Henichesk, denied this information, a local news portal reported.

Read alsoUkraine increases gas consumption amid cold snapAccording to the mayor, he discussed the issue of gas supplies to Henichesk only with the Ukrainian authorities.

As earlier reported, on January 2, 2016 air temperatures in Henichesk dropped below minus 14 degrees Celsius. Coupled with the limited capacity of the Strelkove gas field, this reduced pressure in the city's gas distribution system, leaving over 1,800 households without gas supplies. Henichesk district of Ukraine's Kherson region receives gas from the Strelkove gas field, but in the winter peroiod additional supplies were previously delivered from Crimea as well.