MOSCOW, January 17. /ITAR-TASS/. The Russian Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology has expressed concern about a possible environmental damage projects for the production of shale gas in Ukraine could cause to the Russian regions bordering on Ukraine.

Deputy Minister Rinat Gizatulin has sent a letter to the Ukrainian Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, analyzing environmental risks for Russia if Ukraine began shale gas production close to its border. The letter offered Ukraine to hold a bilateral working meeting to thoroughly look into the situation and take all necessary measures to rule out or minimize risks for Russia’s population and economy.

According to data of the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology, shale gas in Ukraine will most likely be produced with the use of the fracking technology, widely spread in the US and requiring the use of highly-toxic chemicals.