Russian energy company Gazprom today "temporarily" suspended gas supplies through the pipeline connecting Russia to Europe, as previously announced.

Russia's state energy company announced earlier in August that it would cut off the flow of gas through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline for maintenance work that will last until next Saturday.

According to Gazprom, the only working turbine that is located at the Portovaya station was in need of maintenance.

The head of Germany's Federal Power Grid, Klaus Mueller, said that the maintenance work is "technically incomprehensible" and can only be understood as a "punitive" gesture against Berlin for its support of Ukraine since the Russian invasion.

Gazprom has gradually reduced the flow of gas through Nord Stream 1 evoking technical issues such as "equipment repair."

In Germany's view, these are "political cuts" deliberately provoked to drive up energy prices. Russia has cut supplies to Germany by about a third.

The Berlin government said last week that the reduction shows that the country cannot rely on Russian supplies announcing the preparation of measures on a "new type" of gas storage.

Russia has also reduced the flow of gas to other European countries that have shown support for Ukraine. (Lusa/Observador)