Russian gas is flowing into Ukrainian pipelines and will head toward Europe in a few hours, a spokeswoman for Ukrainian pipeline operator Ukrtransgaz told AFP Tuesday.
"The gas has arrived on Ukrainian territory. ...The filling of pipelines and the equalization of gas levels in the Russian and Ukrainian pipes is underway," said the spokeswoman, Inna Koval, adding that the procedure would take about two hours.
"When the pressure is equalized, we will be able to resume transit," she said.
The confirmation came after an official with Russian state energy firm OAO Gazprom (GAZP.RS) had earlier told AFP that Ukraine had begun accepting Russian gas destined for Europe.
"A tap was opened at 1024 a.m. (0724 GMT)", the official said by telephone from the Russian gas metering station at Sudzha.
Russia said Monday it would resume energy supplies to Europe via Ukraine at 0700 GMT Tuesday, almost two weeks after Moscow's gas feud with Kiev cut supplies to a swathe of European countries during a cold winter snap.
Officials had previously said it would take at least 36 hours for supplies to reach Europe after the restart of the pipeline system.
Russia and Ukraine said Monday that they had resolved what had become the worst energy crisis in European Union history and signed a 10-year contract for gas supplies.