KIEV, July 2 - U.K.-based JKX Oil & Gas, which has assets in Ukraine, commenced a multi-stage fracking operation on June 30 from the R-103 well at the Rudenkivske license territory in Poltava region, the company said in a statement to the London Stock Exchange on Tuesday.

The operation, "probably the largest onshore frac in Europe to date," consists of nine stages that will take about 40 day, with initial gas flow expected in August, the statement says.