KIEV, June 16 – Naftogaz Ukrayiny has blamed local authorities and some municipally owned heat supplying companies for the failure to pay for the natural gas supplied since the beginning of the 2008-2009 heating season.

"Unfortunately, repeat warnings and appeals by the company to the heads of local government agencies and heat suppliers to improve the level of payments have been ignored," reads a statement distributed by Naftogaz on Tuesday.