A court in Kazakhstan has authorized the Ukrainian state-owned company Naftogaz to enforce an arbitration ruling against Russia’s Gazprom, allowing for the recovery of approximately $1.4 billion. This decision, announced by Naftogaz on May 20, marks a significant legal victory for the Ukrainian firm.
The International Financial Centre Astana court recognized the arbitration ruling, facilitating its implementation within Kazakhstan. Naftogaz described this as the first public foreign court ruling that acknowledges and permits the enforcement of an arbitration decision against Gazprom in a sovereign state.
Serhiy Koretsky, the chairman of Naftogaz, characterized the court’s ruling as a practical step forward in the ongoing efforts to recover funds from Gazprom. He expressed gratitude to the Naftogaz team for their work in achieving this outcome.
This case stems from a 2019 agreement between Naftogaz and Gazprom concerning the transit of Russian gas. The agreement was set to remain in effect until January 1, 2025. However, following the onset of Russia’s full-scale aggression in May 2022, the transit through the entry point at Sokhranivka became impossible. Despite this, Naftogaz continued to provide transit services through the Sudzha point, as stipulated in the agreement.
Gazprom, however, failed to make full payments for the transportation services. In June 2025, an international arbitration tribunal in Switzerland ruled that Gazprom was obligated to pay Naftogaz $1.37 billion. Naftogaz claims that since May 2022, Gazprom has violated its contractual obligations under the take-or-pay principle by ceasing payments. Consequently, Naftogaz initiated arbitration proceedings in September 2022.
By March 2026, Naftogaz announced its final victory in the Swiss court, solidifying its legal stance against Gazprom.
A Kazakhstan court has ruled in favor of Naftogaz, allowing the Ukrainian company to enforce a $1.4 billion arbitration award against Gazprom. This ruling represents a pivotal moment in the ongoing legal disputes between the two companies, particularly in light of recent geopolitical tensions.