KIEV, Dec. 24 - Ukraine will be able to survive through the middle of April 2009 if Russia suspends natural gas supplies on Jan. 1, 2009 due to debt dispute, Naftogaz Ukrayiny reported Wednesday.

Naftogaz issued a clarification on Wednesday, a day after Oleh Dubyna, the head of Naftogaz Ukrayiny, said there currently is enough gas in Ukraine’s underground gas tanks to survive through the end of 2009.