There are no illusions as to the restoration of the Togliatti-Odessa ammonia pipeline, as Russia has no intention of doing it - Manturov

ST. PETERSBURG. June 15 (Interfax) - Russia has no illusions about the restoration of the damaged section of the Togliatti-Odessa ammonia pipeline, and the Russian side will not do this on Ukrainian territory, Deputy Prime Minister, head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov told reporters.

"There are no illusions that it will be possible to restore the ammonia pipeline, because, as you understand, we will not be engaged in restoration on the territory [of Ukraine]," Manturov said on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.

"It's hard to predict what the Ukrainian side plans to do with it," the deputy PM said.

"We proceed from what I have already announced. These are not just plans, but clear actions related to the implementation of our project, meaning the construction of a terminal," Manturov said.

The construction of the terminal will take place in two phases. "The first stage will be ready at the end of this year, beginning of next year," he said.

A section of the Togliatti-Odessa ammonia pipeline in the Kharkiv region was damaged on June 5. The transit of ammonia along this route had been suspended since February 24, 2022 "due to the situation in Ukraine and the closure of navigation on the Sea of Azov to ensure the safety of people living in the area of the ammonia pipeline," Togliattiazot said at the time.