KIEV, Feb. 28 ??“ A close confidant of former President Leonid Kuchma has been apparently preparing to announce Ukrainian individuals that own shares in RosUkrEnergo, a controversial gas trader, a newspaper reported Tuesday.

Energy and Fuel Minister Ivan Plachkov, currently in Brussels, told business daily Delo that Ihor Bakay, who now lives in Moscow, was likely to make the announcement on Thursday.