Naftogaz pays over 20% of August gas debt to Gazprom

Ukrainian national oil and gas company Naftogaz has now paid over 20% of the $882 million it owed Russia's Gazprom for August gas deliveries, Ukrainian Energy and Coal Industry Minister Eduard Stavytsky told reporters.

"As of today we have already cleared more than 20% [of the debt]," he said.

On that basis, the debt must now be down to $705.6 million.

Gazprom has said Naftogaz paid $50 million on October 30, $9 million on October 31, $10 million on November 1 and $6.2 million on November 4.

Vadym Chuprun, Naftogaz deputy CEO, has said the company's debt had decreased to $806 million by the morning of November 6 and to $792 million later that day.