A group representing the Ukrainian diaspora said on July 12 it was seeking a judicial review of the Canadian government's decision to return a repaired turbine to Germany that is needed for the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline.

The Canadian government on July 9 said it was issuing a "time-limited and revocable permit" to exempt the return of turbines from its Russian sanctions as Europe seeks continued energy flows until it can end its dependency on Russian gas.

Ukraine's energy and foreign ministries said on July 10 the decision amounted to adjusting sanctions imposed on Moscow "to the whims of Russia" and called for it to be reversed.

Russia last month cited the delayed return of the turbine, which Germany's Siemens Energy has been servicing in Canada, as the reason behind its reduction of flows to 40% of capacity through the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline from Russia to Germany.

"This exemption to the sanctions regime against Russia is totally unacceptable," the Ukrainian World Congress said in a statement. "There are real alternatives to Germany’s gas needs, including buying through Ukraine’s pipeline."

The Ukrainian World Congress said it had filed a notice of application for judicial review to the Federal Court and was requesting "a declaration that the decision to provide a permit to Siemens was unreasonable and unauthorized and an order quashing the permit."

Canada's defense ministry did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment from Reuters.