Russia has cut gas supply to Europe, says Ukraine

RUSSIA was today accused of turning off the gas tap supplying Europe via Ukraine amid sub-zero temperatures.

The latest "gas war" between the Kremlin and Kiev escalated dramatically with reports that homes in eastern Europe were left without heating.

The cost of gas on the wholesale market in Britain also soared, meaning consumers could face even bigger bills.

Slovakia declared a state of emergency as imports plunged and Hungary was reportedly limiting gas used by industry. Austria, Hungary, Greece, Romania, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia and Serbia said their imports of Russian gas through Ukraine had stopped.

Italy said it had received a 10th of its usual supplies.

Germany imports nearly 40 per cent of its gas from Russia, with four fifths of this coming through Ukraine.

Ukraine's state gas company Naftogaz accused Russia's Gazprom of halting supplies to European consumers this morning. The Russians have accused Ukraine of failing to pay its bills and of siphoning off supplies intended for other European nations. Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin said the gas had been stolen "not from Russia but from western consumers because they have bought this commodity and paid for it".