According to Warsaw officials, Russia has suspended natural gas supplies to Poland & Bulgaria because of a refusal by the countries to pay in Russian rubles.

On Wednesday morning, gas deliveries via the Yamal-Europe pipeline will be halted.

PGNiG, Poland’s state-owned gas company, stated Tuesday that it was notified by Gazprom about the Russian gas giant’s move.

According to the energy ministry, Gazprom informed Bulgargaz, a Bulgarian state gas company that it would stop gas supplies starting Wednesday.

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Anna Moskwa (Polish’s climate minister) insists that the country is prepared for such an eventuality after having worked for years to reduce dependence on Russian energy sources.

She stated that the country is now effectively independent in Russia when it comes to Russian oil for some time.

Ms. Moskwa tweeted “There will not be a shortage of gas in Polish households,” before repeating the message at a news conference.

She stated, “Appropriate diversification techniques that we have implemented allow us to feel on top in this situation.”

Yamal Pipeline connects Russian natural gas reserves in Western Siberia and Yamal Peninsula to Poland and Germany. It is approximately 2,552 miles in length.

Each year, Poland receives around nine billion cubic meters of Russian gas.

European Network of Transmission System Operators for Gas published flow chart on its website that showed dramatic drops in gas flows at entry points to Kondratki (a town in eastern Poland) and Vysokaye (in Belarus).

Gazprom was quoted as saying that Poland must now pay for its gas supplies using a new procedure, according to the Russian news agency Tass. However, the Russian company has not confirmed the suspension of gas supplies.

Europe continues to import large amounts of natural gas from Russia for heating homes and generating electricity.

About 60% of gas imports are paid for in euros and the rest in US dollars.

In an apparent attempt to support the Russian currency during the invasion, Vladimir Putin, the Russian President, stated last month that foreign buyers who are not friendly to Russia would soon be required to pay Gazprom in Russian roubles.

European leaders replied by stating that they would not comply, arguing that the requirement to pay in rubles violated their contracts and sanctions against Russia.

PGNiG stated that Russia’s demand for payment in roubles was a violation of the Yamal Contract.

Since the outbreak of war, thousands of Ukrainian refugees have fled to Poland. Poland is a strong supporter and ally of Ukraine.

It also serves as a transit point for weapons from the USA and other western countries to Ukraine.