KIEV, Oct. 1 - A local Ukrainian court ruled to liquidate UkrGaz-Energo, once the most powerful supplier of natural gas in Ukraine, a spokesman for the Justice Ministry said Wednesday.

UkrGaz-Energo, which is 25% owned by Russian gas monopoly Gazprom, said Wednesday it will appeal the ruling.

The development puts in a spotlight the almost 9 billion cubic meters of natural gas that UkrGaz-Energo claims it still owns and keeps in Ukrainian underground gas tanks.