Ministry of Energy and Coal Mining

Day 414 of the invasion of Ukraine. Summary of key events in the last 24 hours:

Moldova and Ukraine have signed a contract to upgrade gas distribution stations for imports from Romania, stepping up preparations for potential supply disruptions as their gas contracts with Russia come close to expiring.

The Ukrainian authorities have started the seizure of assets belonging to the Russian gas giant Gazprom, citing its alleged non-compliance with the decision of the Stockholm arbitration court.

Ukraine has more than trebled the price of transiting Russian natural gas to Europe via its territory since the start of 2016, according to Ukrainian media outlet energy.apostrophe.com.ua.

Bulgaria said on Wednesday that supplies of Russian natural gas to the country and the volumes for transit to its neighbours are flowing normally - several hours after Russia said it has stopped supplying gas to Ukraine.

Bulgaria, which is almost entirely dependent on Russia for its gas imports, receives them via a transit pipeline crossing Ukraine and Romania.

Russian state giant Gazprom on Nov. 25 said it had halted gas deliveries to Ukraine after Kyiv failed to make upfront payments for more supplies.

Gazprom chief Alexei Miller said that as of 07.00 GMT Ukraine's Naftogaz had used up all the gas it had paid for and "no new upfront payment has been made."

Ukraine announced on June 30 the immediate suspension of all Russian gas purchases after EU-mediated negotiations aimed at keeping supplies running for at least three more months broke down.

The EU urged Ukraine on April 1 to accept Russia's offer to extend the current gas deal with Kyiv by another three months, saying it bodes well for an agreement for next winter.

Ukraine's energy minister said Dec. 3 that a technical fault at a nuclear power plant in the south of country has cut power production but he insisted it poses no danger.

Volodymr Demchishin told a press briefing that a short circuit at a power-generating unit in the Zaporozhiya plant led to a drop in electricity production, and that normal output will be restored by the weekend.