The Russian energy company Gazprom abruptly halted deliveries of natural gas to Austria on Saturday following a legal dispute over supply interruptions. The stoppage was confirmed to dpa by Austrian energy company OMV spokeswoman Sylvia Shin.

Russia told Austria on Friday it will suspend gas deliveries via Ukraine on Saturday, in a development that signals a fast-approaching end of Moscow's last gas flows to Europe.

Russia will stop its gas deliveries to Austria from Saturday, Austrian oil and gas group OMV said on Friday. OMV said it had received notice from Gazprom Export, a subsidiary of Kremlin-controlled energy giant Gazprom.