KIEV, Ukraine -- A blast hit a major Ukrainian pipeline on Tuesday, but did not appear to affect the transport of Russian gas to European clients, Ukrainian officials said.
The incident occurred one day after Russia halted gas deliveries to Ukraine over unpaid debts, sending only the quantities purchased by European clients.
Moscow's decision has enraged Ukraine's new Western-backed leaders, and the country's acting interior minister quickly blamed the explosion on Russian "sabotage."
The Russian section of the pipeline is operated by state energy giant Gazprom (IW 1000/16), and the Ukrainian segment by Ukrtransgaz.
There were no reports of any casualties from the blast in the northeastern region of Poltava, the local police department said.
Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2014
