Kiev - Russia's most recent cut in natural gas pumped into Ukrainian pipelines could affect European supplies "in hours," an official for the Ukrainian natural gas monopolist Naftogaz Ukrainy said Tuesday.

The Russian natural gas monopolist Gazprom early Tuesday morning reduced gas supplies to Ukraine to 92 million cubic metres per day, a volume roughly one third of average deliveries during winter months, said Valentyn Zemliansky, a Naftogaz spokesman.

Ukraine had made up an earlier shortfall in European deliveries, caused by an initial Russian fuel supply cut on January 1, from gas reserves held in Kiev-controlled reservoirs, Zenliansky said.

The first Russian cut coming on New Year's day reduced deliveries earmarked for Europe from 310 million cubic metres to 221 million cubic metres.

Tuesday's second gas delivery cut by Russia, the limited amounts of gas held by Ukraine in reserve, and the need to ensure continued gas supplies to Ukrainian consumers, meant that pressure in Ukrainian pipelines passing Russian gas on to Europe could soon fall drastically, he added.

"At this rate, we are going to see problems (in deliveries to Europe) in a few hours," Zemliansky said.

Naftogaz Ukrainy is locked in a battle of nerves with Gazprom over pricing for Russian natural gas delivered to Ukraine, and onward to European customers.

Russia is among other disagreements accusing Ukraine of stealing Russian gas earmarked for Europe, and Ukraine is accusing Russia of sending insufficient gas for Ukraine to maintain safe pressure in its pipeline system, and continue full-scale deliveries to Europe.

Gazprom officials said the cut on Tuesday was actually only 65 million cubic metres, and called on Ukraine to make up the 27 million cubic metre difference.

The actual size of Tuesday's delivery cut was 92 million cubic metres, not 65 million cubic metres, because Ukraine was not obliged by contract to make up shortfalls to European customers caused by Gazprom volume cuts, Zemliansky argued. (dpa)