KIEV, Oct. 25 - Royal Dutch Shell jointly with a Ukrainian company on Thursday started drilling for natural gas in Ukraine in a project that President Viktor Yanukovych said will strengthen the country’s energy independence.

Underscoring the importance of the event, Yanukovych joined the well drilling ceremony at the Pavlovsko-Svetlovske field in the Kharkiv region.

“For us it’s important that year after year we strengthen our energy independence and use all natural gas resources that there are in Ukraine,” Yanukovych said at the ceremony.