Naftogaz Ukrainy made a prepayment for gas totaling $15 million to Gazprom, enough for roughly five days of supplies, just one day before the previous prepayment was used up.

"Naftogaz has made a $15 million prepayment for supplies in March. The money posted to Gazprom's account today. This sum is sufficient for 45.6 million cubic meters, that is, approximately five days of supplies at the rate Naftogaz is ordering," Gazprom spokesman Sergei Kupriyanov told journalists.

Ukrainian Energy and Coal Industry Minister Volodymyr Demchyshyn said at a briefing in Kyiv on Wednesday that the country was not planning to send large advance payments for gas to Gazprom.

"Yesterday we did not send the [advance] payment, but Naftogaz is ready. The company has money. Steps will be small at this moment, and taking into account a fall in gas consumption, there is no need to pump large volumes [of gas] from Russia," he said.

He added that the price of gas from Russia is 15% higher for Ukraine the price of gas supplied from Europe.