Europe threatened by shortage of Russian gas?

The European Union is bracing for another potential energy crisis in the dead of winter as Russian gas supplies to some member states have suddenly dwindled by up to 30 percent.

Gas deliveries this week slowed to Poland, Slovakia, Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, Greece and Italy, dropping by 30 percent in Austria on Thursday and 24 percent in Italy.

The European Commission put its gas coordination committee on alert Friday, but insisted the situation had not yet reached an emergency level as nations have pledged to help each other if needed and storage facilities have been upgraded, AP news agency reports.

Commission spokeswoman Marlene Holzner said Russia was going through an extremely cold spell and needed more gas to keep its citizens warm.

Moscow has blamed Ukraine for the shortages, saying Kiev is siphoning off more than its share. Authorities in Ukraine have denied the accusation.

Ukraine's Fuel and Energy Minister Yuri Boiko said Friday that Russia was shipping some 15 percent less gas than usual because of increased domestic consumption due to the cold weather.

"We are taking gas in strict compliance with the contract, but because it isn't coming from Russia, of course it isn't reaching Europe," Boiko said, according to his office.

A Gazprom official said the Russian gas exporter was fulfilling its supply contracts, but European customers were asking for additional supplies.