Russia’s Gazprom halts gas supplies to Poland and Bulgaria

Russian energy giant Gazprom on Wednesday halted gas supplies to Bulgaria and Poland for failing to pay for gas in roubles, the Kremlin’s toughest response yet to the crippling sanctions imposed by the West over the conflict in Ukraine.

Poland and Bulgaria are the first countries to have their gas cut off by Europe’s main supplier since Moscow started what it calls a special military operation in Ukraine on February 24.

“Gazprom has completely suspended gas supplies to Bulgargaz (Bulgaria) and PGNiG (Poland) due to absence of payments in roubles,” Gazprom said in a statemnt.