KIEV, Oct. 2 – Russian oil major Lukoil on Friday stopped its Ukrainian oil refinery, apparently protesting Ukraine’s plans to start massive imports of alternative Caspian Sea crude to one of its competitors.

Lukoil explained the move by the failure to reach agreement with UkrTransNafta, the state oil shipper, over supply routes, after the shipper had reversed one of its pipelines to start imports of Caspian crude.

If the stoppage persists for weeks, it may lead to layoffs at Lukoil-Odessa oil refinery and will produce shortage of gasoline in Ukraine, Lukoil warned in a statement.