Bloomberg reported that Ukraine may miss March 7th 2009 deadline to pay OAO Gazprom for last month’s natural gas imports after the main office of state run energy company NAK Naftogaz Ukrainy was raided by armed men yesterday.

Mr Dmytro Marunych spokesman of Naftogaz said by phone that most of the men, some armed, who entered the Naftogaz building this morning seeking documents on gas accords and customs clearance have now left.

He said that “The main aim of the security service’s attack is to seize the original gas contracts with Gazprom. It may impede gas payments because they are made using the original contracts.”

(Sourced from Bloomberg)