Increasing non-payment for gas supplied by Naftogaz Ukrainy to Ukraine's home heating utilities could disrupt payments for gas imports from Russian Gazprom.

"Enterprises in the heating utilities sector continue to amass indebtedness for the natural gas they consume. As of February 3 total indebtedness at those enterprises was almost UAH 27 billion (roughly $3.4 billion). In the last three months alone, the total has increased by almost UAH 10 billion," Naftogaz said.

Naftogaz has appealed to the Regional Development, Construction and Communal Living Ministry and local authorities to take urgent measures to pay down the indebtedness.

Earlier, President Vladimir Putin said that Ukraine has asked Gazprom to defer payment of $2.7 billion for gas delivered last fall, which came due on January 25. Ukraine has also requested a payment deferral for gas delivered this year at the new, discounted price.

The official exchange rate on February 3 was UAH 7.993/$1.