EU says gas observers have started work in Ukraine

BRUSSELS, Jan 9 (Reuters) - A team of observers has arrived in Ukraine and begun work at the central dispatching point of Ukrtransgas in Kiev, the European Commission said amid a row that has frozen Russian gas supplies to the EU via Ukraine.

"This means that all the conditions agreed between the leaders of the European Union, Russia and Ukraine are in place for the immediate restart of gas supplies from Russia that are destined for European customers," a Commission statement said.

The team consists of about 20 members including experts from major gas companies and senior officials from the EU, the Commission statement, issued on Friday, said. (Reporting Bate Felix, editing by Dale Hudson)