Gazprom’s stake in Wintershall Noordzee frozen at DTEK’s request
Photo: Wintershall Noordzee

Ukrainian energy holding DTEK Rinat Akhmetov's on July 21, 2025, imposed an executive arrest on 50% of Gazprom's shares in the Dutch gas production company Wintershall Noordzee, according to materials of the District Court of The Hague.

DTEK, which in 2023 won an international arbitration court in The Hague against Russia for seized assets in illegally annexed Crimea, justified this by saying that Gazprom could be identified with the Russian Federation.

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Wintershall Noordzee is a gas production company founded in 1965 and headquartered in Rijswijk, the Netherlands. It specializes in the production of gas from offshore fields in the Dutch part of the North Sea, with assets in the British, German and Danish sectors of the sea. The company operates nine offshore production units and four subsea facilities, providing gas to Dutch consumers. Wintershall Noordzee is a joint venture between Wintershall Dea and Gazprom EP International .

The Russians tried to appeal the arrest, but on September 5, the court rejected Gazprom's request.

Gazprom said that the seizure of Wintershall Noordzee shares prevents their sale in favor of Mazine Energy B.V., which could have negative consequences for the company, its employees and the energy security of the Netherlands.

However, the court noted that DTEK is ready to agree to cancel the arrest if Gazprom International provides alternative security in the form of depositing funds from the sale of shares.

The Ukrainian company's proposal was that Gazprom International could sell the shares provided that the proceeds from the sale (or a part of them corresponding to the amount of the Russian Federation's debt) would be frozen or held on a special account until a final decision is made on whether DTEK has the right to recover this debt from Gazprom International's assets.

This would allow DTEK to have a guarantee of a refund and Gazprom International to sell its shares.

Gazprom International said that due to international sanctions against the Russian Federation it could not provide a bank guarantee, but the arguments of the Russian company did not convince the court.

  • on September 3, it became known that DTEK wants to sue Russia St. Sergius' Yard in Jerusalem.
  • Before the occupation of Crimea, DTEK owned the energy distribution and supply company DTEK Krymenergo. The occupation authorities took control of the company's assets from the rightful owner after the occupation in 2014.