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Paris - Russian energy giant Gazprom cut gas supplies to Ukraine on January 1 and has further reduced deliveries of Europe-bound gas through Ukraine in response to what it says is illegal siphoning by Kiev.
The European Union depends on Russia for about a quarter of its total gas supplies, some 80% of which are pumped through Ukraine.
Amid a bitterly cold winter spell, many supply cuts have hit countries in central and eastern Europe highly dependent on Russia for their supplies.
Here is a list of the countries that have seen cuts in gas supplies:
- AUSTRIA: Russian gas supplies fall by 90%. Austrian energy company OMV says it can make up the shortfall by using extensive reserves.
- BOSNIA: Russian gas supplies fall by 25%.
- BULGARIA: Russian gas supplies entirely halted. State gas company Bulgargaz says it is using stored gas but will have to impose gas rationing for industry and has appealed to consumers to use "all possible alternative fuels."
- CROATIA: Russian gas supplies entirely halted. Croatian oil and gas group INA calls on all consumers to use natural gas sparingly, while the economy ministry says reductions will start for major industrial consumers.
- CZECH REPUBLIC: Russian gas supplies expected to fall by 75%.
- GERMANY: German gas importer Wingas reports a fall in Russian gas supplies.
- GREECE: Russian gas supplies entirely halted. The Public Gas Corporation says there will be no effect on households due to a prior build-up of reserves but warns the state electricity company will be asked to cut consumption if needed.
- HUNGARY: Russian gas supplies fall by 27%. Hungarian energy group MOL says it will use gas reserves.
- MACEDONIA: Russian gas supplies entirely halted.
- POLAND: Polish gas distributor Gaz-System has reported a 6.0% drop in supplies via Ukraine. Gaz-System says it has compensated by increasing Russian gas supplies via Belarus.
- ROMANIA: Russian gas supplies reduced by more than two-thirds. The economy ministry calls an emergency meeting but says that consumption is being met by locally produced gas, as well as inventories held underground.
- TURKEY: Russian gas supplies transiting through the Balkans is entirely halted. Turkey increases gas imports through the Blue Stream, a gas pipeline running under the Black Sea through which it receives most of its gas.
- AFP