STATEMENT BY GROUP DF

We refer to the public comments made by the Prime Minister of Ukraine, Yulia Tymoshenko, again asserting that Dmitry Firtash has a beneficial interest in Vanco Prikerchenska Ltd, an oil and gas exploration company.

We state the following:

Neither Group DF nor Mr. Dmitry Firtash personally has any direct or indirect interest in or affiliation with Vanco Prikerchenska Ltd, or with Integrum Technologies Ltd, or with any other entity that has an interest in Vanco.

Mr. Robert Shetler-Jones, Chief Executive of Group DF, said: “We are dismayed that in spite of our previous categorical denials of any involvement in Vanco, the Prime Minister is persisting with these incorrect and groundless assertions. We also fully support the statement of His Excellency US Ambassador Taylor on this matter when he rightly pointed out that the Ukraine Government: "needs to make clear that it respects the sanctity of contracts and the rule of law."