Russian state gas producer OAO Gazprom (GAZP.RS) has started redirecting natural gas volumes bound for Europe from Ukraine to alternative routes such as the Nord Stream pipeline and Belarus ' pipeline system, the company said Friday.

"We are at the beginning of a big move to redistribute gas transit volumes from Ukraine to our Beltransgas unit and new subsea pipelines," a Gazprom spokesman said.

Ukraine 's state oil and gas company Naftogaz said earlier Friday that Russia had almost halved gas transit volumes through Ukraine to Europe , the Interfax news agency reported.

"This is only the beginning," the Gazprom spokesman added.

Russia is a major supplier of natural gas to Europe and ships up to 80% of its European exports through Ukraine 's pipeline system. However, conflicts over the price for transit and for Ukraine 's domestic use have led to supply disruptions on several occasions, which has prompted Russia to seek alternative supply routes.

Last year, Gazprom launched the Nord Stream pipeline under the Baltic Sea to Germany and secured full control of Belarus ' gas-pipeline operator Beltransgaz in exchange for a major discount on gas supplies.

Russia and Ukraine are locked in talks over a new supply contract with Kiev pushing for cheaper gas in order to balance its budget, but in exchange for lower priced gas Moscow is aiming to gain control of Ukraine 's pipeline system.

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