The Ukrainian interior minister also suggested that the government cut off power supplies to the annexed peninsula which declared a state of emergency at the weekend after its main electricity lines from Ukraine were blown up.
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Mustafa Dzhemilev, a senior Crimean Tatar politician, said the process of restoring power to Crimea could start only after “political prisoners” on the peninsula were released.
Novak said that Russian Federation may cut natural gas supplies to Ukraine on Tuesday or Wednesday because Kyiv had not made a down payment on future deliveries.
Earlier on Monday, Ukrainian Energy Minister Volodymyr Demchyshyn said Ukraine had enough gas in reserve to ensure it did not need to buy gas from Russian Federation at this stage. That region has been tense since Russia’s annexation of Crimea – an act that was condemned internationally. “Every Russian embargo against Ukraine will be followed by a Ukrainian embargo against Russia”.
“Currently, the workers are clearing the territory and dismantling the destroyed pylon”.
There has been disruption to road and rail traffic to and from Crimea since Ukrainian nationalists and Crimean Tatars began a border blockade in September. “On the contrary, [the projects is going – TASS] in accordance with the schedule that we have received as part of design documentation”, the Minister said. “We will defend the rights of the Crimean Tatar people and all Ukrainians who are living on occupied territory”.
Ukraine’s government pledged Monday to return power to Crimea as soon as possible, but it also said it would review whether to continue supplying electricity to the region at all next year. “Certain figures, former Crimeans, are trying to push some political demands, making trade-offs”, he wrote. “Anyone who harms our citizens will be punished”.
“An emergency regime has been introduced in Crimea in connection with the complete cessation of power supplies from Ukraine”, he reported.
The peninsula, home to about two million, has no land link with Russian Federation and relies on Ukraine for most of its power, water and other supplies.
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“I can not give an answer now, but I think this matter will be considered shortly”, he was quoted as saying when asked about the possibility of halting coal supplies to Ukraine. A major irrigation canal was shut down in 2014, but significant rainfall and other local sources prevented serious damage to crops this year.
