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The move comes a day after Kiev said it would suspend train
and bus services to Crimea, effectively creating a
transportation blockade to and from the region annexed by Moscow
in March this year. Kiev has briefly cut off electricity to
Crimea before.
Russia will supply coal and electricity to Kiev without advance
payment as a goodwill gesture from President Vladimir Putin, his
spokesman Dmitry Peskov told TASS news agency.
"Putin made a decision to start these supplies due to the
critical situation with energy supplies and despite a lack of
prepayment," Peskov said.
Russia plans to supply 500,000 tonnes of coal to Ukraine per
month, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak told Rossiya 24
television. It is ready to supply another 500,000 tonnes per
month if an additional agreement is reached, he added.
Ukraine's coal reserves stand at 1.5 million tonnes compared
with normal winter stocks of 4-5 million tonnes, according to
energy ministry data.
The country used to be self-sufficient in electricity, but
months of fighting a pro-Russian uprising has disrupted coal
supplies to thermal power plants, which had generated around 40
percent of its power.
Last week Ukraine's energy minister, Voldymyr Demchyshyn, said
he was holding talks with Russia's energy ministry on coal and
power supplies. Earlier attempts to import Russian coal have
been hampered by supplies being held up at the border.
Supplies will come at Russian domestic prices, Kozak said,
adding that he hoped the move would help ensure reliable energy
supplies to Crimea.
He did not say whether the transportation hold-ups at the border
had been resolved.
Russia will also supply electricity to Ukraine, Kozak said,
without giving supply volumes.
Kiev's pro-Western government has accused Russia of
orchestrating the rebellion in Ukraine's east, a charge Moscow
denies.
(Reporting by Polina Devitt and Alessandra Prentice; Editing by
Hugh Lawson)
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