( CNN ) -- Riding through the streets of Moscow or flipping through channels of Russian TV , it 's difficult to escape messages from the country 's natural gas monopoly , Gazprom . Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin visits the central control room at the Gazprom HQ , Moscow , January . `` I 'm driving under a huge Gazprom sign right now , '' Yuri Pogorely , vice-president of Interfax , the Russian business news wire , said in a phone interview . Television ad campaigns have promoted the company as a `` national treasure '' and , more recently , the business that makes `` dreams come true . '' `` It can make someone think , why does a Russian monopoly need this kind of branding ? After all , there are other state-owned companies that do n't present themselves as a symbol of Russia , '' Pogorely said . `` But Gazprom is not just any company . '' If the Soviet Union promoted its interests through satellite states and military prowess , Russia today flexes its might on the global stage through its vast oil and natural gas fields . And no company exemplifies this more than Gazprom . `` By reputation , it is the largest and most powerful Russian company , '' said Lev Snykov , an analyst with VTB Capital in Moscow . Watch Gazprom chief Alexander Medvedev explain future strategy » . But its strong-arm tactics in contract negotiations with the Ukraine -- shutting off gas supplies three times in the past four years at the height of winter -- have European Union customers looking for alternatives to their reliance on Russian natural gas . The company has the world 's largest distribution system of gas , maintaining 97,560 miles ( 157,000 kilometers ) of pipelines that stretch , like Russia , from the Far East to Europe . The perennial conflict with the Ukraine -- through which much of the natural gas supply of Eastern Europe flows -- is of deep concern to nations such as Germany and Greece , which depend on Russia for up to 50 percent and 90 percent of their natural gas , respectively . Gazprom saw its market share in the European Union drop in the second half of 2008 . Gas exports from Russia to Europe dropped 33 percent in October alone , according VTB Capital . `` The Ukraine conflict may have served as a catalyst for European customers to become more averse to Russian gas imports , '' says a VTB report on the Ukraine crisis . The Russian economy , reliant on commodities , is suffering because of the fluctuating oil market , down from its record of nearly $ 150 a barrel to about $ 60 today . As a result , Gazprom saw profits fall 84 percent in the last quarter of 2008 , prompting the company to slash its dividend by 86 percent , to 11 cents a share . Russia has 20 percent of the world 's gas reserves , and is the single-largest producer of natural gas . Gazprom posted profits of $ 30.8 billion last year -- down from $ 40 billion the year before -- and its business alone accounts for 10 percent of Russia 's gross domestic product . So it 's no surprise that Gazprom is a pet project of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin . His replacement as president , Dmitry Medvedev , is a former chairman of the company . Putin 's `` interest in Gazprom is very deep . As a journalist who writes about energy issues , I 've seen him give very detailed information and knowledge about what 's happening with the company and company logistics , '' said Pogorely of Interfax . `` When you hear him speak , it 's like you 're not talking to the prime minister of Russia , but one of the top company managers . '' Alexander Medvedev , deputy chief executive officer of Gazprom Exports , deflects questions about the perception that Gazprom is a tool of Russian government and energy policy . Watch Medvedev explain Gazprom 's plans » . `` Nobody is challenging the view that Gazprom is a very special company , that we have a mixed capital structure , the majority of our shares are in the hands of the Russian government , '' he said . `` But the rest are in the hands of private shareholders , including private citizens all around the world . '' The company 's goal is to become an energy leader with a diversified portfolio around the world , he said . `` Like Alexander Ovechkin ... not everyone enjoys him , but he 's a leader , and we would like to perform as good as Ovechkin in hockey , '' he said , referring to the controversial Russian ice hockey star who was named Player of the Year this week by National Hockey League players . That sentiment echoes how Russians feel about Gazprom . A recent poll by the Public Opinion Foundation found one in five Russians under 26 would like to work for Gazprom . `` In rural areas , Gazprom is dramatically important for people because of our harsh winters , '' Pogorely said . `` Russians love someone big who sticks up for you . OK , sometimes they may not be very nice to you . But if he cares for you and makes your life better , that 's OK , '' Pogorely said . `` But if you 're doing business in Russia , Gazprom is the power you would n't mess with . ''
Russia , single-largest natural gas producer , has 20 percent of global gas reserves . Gazprom business accounts for 20 percent of Russia 's gross domestic product . Gazprom disputes with Russia has seen Russian nations wary of the company . European president and prime minister show strong interest in the company .