MOSCOW, November 25. /TASS/. Gazprom ceases gas supplies to Naftogaz of Ukraine until new payments; Ukraine refusing to buy Russian gas creates risks for gas transit to Europe and gas supplies for the Ukrainian consumers, Gazprom Head Alexey Miller said Wednesday.

"Today, as of 10:00 AM Naftogaz of Ukraine has chosen previously prepaid volumes of Russian gas. There was no additional pre-payment. No applications for gas supply from Naftogaz of Ukraine either. Thus, the deliveries stop until we receive new payment from the Ukrainian company. At the same time even now, before seriously cold weather, Ukraine started active selection of gas from underground storage facilities, which are insufficiently filled as it is. Refusing to buy Russian gas creates risks for gas transit to Europe and gas supplies for the Ukrainian consumers before this coming winter," he said.

As TASS reported earlier, in late October Naftogaz of Ukraine has made up an account with Gazprom for the supply of 2 bln cubic meters of gas. Overall, Ukrainian company transferred almost $500 mln to Gazprom — $234 mln on October 12, $136 mln ion October 20, and $64 mln in late October.

On September 25, Russia, the European Union and Ukraine have reached an agreement in principle on the so-called ‘winter package’ of gas supplies to Ukraine for 2 bln cubic meters of Russian gas. Deliveries were to start on October 1. Naftogaz of Ukraine noted that payments for Russian gas will be transferred gradually, in small tranches.

The price of the Russian gas for Ukraine in the fourth quarter of 2015 amounts to around $230 per 1,000 cubic meters.