Russia may move to a system of advance payments for gas by Ukraine because of the large overdue amount of money owed to Gazprom.

Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller said during an intercom meeting conducted by Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev that Ukraine is $882 million in arrears for gas supplied in August, even though the payment deadline was extended to the first of this month.

"I think it necessary to consider the question of prepayment soon, advance payments, as is envisioned in the contract," Miller said.

Medvedev said that the time will come soon to consider this matter, all the more so as this is stipulated in contracts and in the absence of a response from Ukraine.