Russia’s state-owned natural gas company Gazprom stopped supplies to Austria early Saturday, according to the Vienna-based utility OMV, after OMV said it would stop payments for the gas following an arbitration award.

Austria's biggest energy supplier is trying to recover damages awarded during arbitration from Gazprom by essentially stopping some payment for gas supplied via Ukraine.

Austria's OMV halts payments to Gazprom, following an arbitration award, leading to a cessation of Russian gas supplies. Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer assured that Austria had an alternative supply of fuel.