(ANSA) - MOSCOW, JUNE 24 - The specter of a gas crisis weighs on Europe. The crisis might be the result of the precarious situation of Ukrtransgaz, the Ukrainian operator of the pipeline system. According to Nezavisimaya Gazeta, in fact, Ukrtransgaz "does not have sufficient financial capacity" to buy the volumes of gas which are necessary to maintain transport infrastructure - gas pipelines - in good conditions and now "supplies are at risk of being cut off". Ukrtransgaz, moreover, has already declared in a statement published on its website the shortage of stocks in its underground warehouses: approximately 152m cubic meters of gas, whereas the monthly needs amount to about 240 million. In order to work properly the gas pipeline needs around 720m cubic meters of gas in the summer, but - according to local media - the company has not succeeded in placing the 12 contracts which are necessary to secure the expected 880m cubic meters, and this is apparently due to doubts about its financial stability. (ANSA).