Alerts. Real-time analysis of events occurring at the intersection of economics, finance and global security concerns.

There was an explosion along a natural gas pipeline in the Poltava region of Ukraine on June 17, one day after a gas pricing dispute between Ukraine and Russia led Moscow to halt gas exports to Ukraine for the third time since 2006.  The fire was quickly extinguished and reportedly will not impact the flow of gas to consumers.  Ukraine’s Interior Ministry said it was investigating a number of possible causes, including terrorism.  Ukraine Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said, “According to locals, just before the fire, they heard two loud bangs that may indicate a deliberate explosion.”  This pipeline runs through Ukraine, connecting Russia with Slovakia and supplying several small offshoots into Hungary and Romania.