Kazakh court allows enforcement of $1.4 billion Naftogaz award against Gazprom

This is the first public foreign court decision recognizing and granting permission to enforce this arbitration award against Gazprom in the territory of a separate state.

The court’s decision in Kazakhstan is another practical result in the process of recovering funds from Gazprom. We are consistently moving forward and working to enforce the arbitration award across multiple jurisdictions. I thank the Naftogaz team for this result,” commented Sergii Koretskyi, Chief Executive Officer of Naftogaz.

ADL Disputes and Wikborg Rein represent the interests of Naftogaz Group in the proceedings in Kazakhstan.

Background

Under the 2019 Russia-Ukraine Gas Transit Agreement, Naftogaz Group was obligated to organize the transit of natural gas through the territory of Ukraine for Gazprom until the Agreement expired on January 1, 2025.

In May 2022, due to actions by Russian occupying forces, it became impossible to organize gas transit through the Sokhranivka entry point. Despite this, Naftogaz Group continued to provide gas transit services provided for under the Agreement through the Sudzha entry point. Nevertheless, Gazprom refused to pay fully for gas transportation organization services, thereby breaching its contractual obligations.

In September 2022, Naftogaz Group initiated arbitration proceedings in Switzerland under the Rules of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), as provided for under the Agreement.

In June 2025, the arbitral tribunal seated in Switzerland issued its Final Award, finding Gazprom fully liable for failing to fulfill its obligations and determining that there were no valid grounds for non-payment. The tribunal ordered Gazprom to pay the outstanding debt for gas transportation organization services, as well as interest and arbitration costs.

In January 2026, the Swiss Federal Tribunal dismissed Gazprom’s appeal, thereby finally confirming the validity of the award.

As Gazprom has failed to comply with its obligations voluntarily, Naftogaz Group is pursuing an international asset recovery campaign across multiple jurisdictions.