OSLO (Reuters – Russia’s Gazprom halted gas exports from Finland on Saturday, according to the Finnish gas system operator. It is the latest escalation in a dispute over energy payments with Western countries.

Gasgrid Finland stated in a statement that “Gas imports through Imatra Entry point have been stopped”.

Imatra serves as the point of entry for Russian gas to Finland.

Gasum, the Finnish state-owned gas wholesaler Gasum said on Friday that Gazprom had advised flows would be stopped at 4 a.m. GMT Saturday morning.

Gazprom Export requested that European countries cover Russian gas supplies in rubles because of sanctions against Moscow for its invasion Ukraine. However, Finland has refused.