Countries hit by Russian gas cuts

(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 off by Kiev.

The European Union depends on Russia for about a quarter of its total gas supplies, some 80 percent of which are pumped via Ukraine.

The shortfalls have hit particularly hard the countries of central and eastern Europe, which are even more dependent on Russian supplies.

Here is a list of the 17 countries that have seen cuts in gas supplies:

- AUSTRIA: Russian gas supplies fall by 90 percent. Austrian energy company OMV says it can make up the shortfall by using extensive reserves.

- BOSNIA: Russian gas supplies entirely halted.

- BULGARIA: Russian gas supplies entirely halted. State gas company Bulgargaz says it is using reserves 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 gas sparingly, while the economy ministry says reductions will start for major industrial consumers.

- CZECH REPUBLIC: Russian gas supplies expected to fall by 75 percent.

- FRANCE: Russian gas supplies fall 70 percent. Energy group GDF Suez assures its supplies in France and to Europe will continue as normal.

- GERMANY: German gas importers Wingas and E.ON Ruhrgas report a fall in Russian gas supplies without giving a precise figure. The companies say they have enough gas in reserves to make up for the shortfall.

- GREECE: Russian gas supplies entirely halted. The Public Gas Corporation says there will be no effect on households due to high reserves but warns the state electricity company will be asked to cut consumption if needed.

- HUNGARY: Russian gas supplies entirely halted. The authorities say the situation is critical and factories have been requested to switch to other energy sources. Gas company FGSZ says reserves are sufficient for "some weeks."

- ITALY: Russian gas supplies drop 90 percent. The authorities say deliveries from other countries such as Algeria, Britain, Libya and the Netherlands will be increased and existing stocks can last "several weeks."

- MACEDONIA: Russian gas supplies entirely halted.

- POLAND: Polish national gas company PGNiG reports a drop of 85 percent drop in Russian gas supplies via Ukraine. The company says it will increase supplies through a pipeline that crosses Belarus to make up the shortfall.

- 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 from reserves.

- SERBIA: Russian natural gas supplies fall by 50 percent. Serbian national gas company Serbijagas director Dusan Bajatovic warns the Russia-Ukraine dispute "has created an exceptional situation which could get worse."

- SLOVAKIA: Russian gas supplies fall by 70 percent. Slovak gas importer SPP declares a state of energy emergency in the country, which allows the company to cut supplies as required by the situation.

- SLOVENIA: Russian gas supplies fall by 90 percent. Slovenian natural gas supplies Geoplin says it is being forced to use reserves to meet domestic demand.

- TURKEY: Russian gas supplies transiting through the Balkans are entirely halted. Turkey increases gas imports through Blue Stream, a gas pipeline running under the Black Sea through which it receives most of its gas.