Moscow, 1 February 2023 (dpa/MIA) - Russia is again piping more natural gas through Ukraine towards Europe after recent reductions, the state-owned Gazprom energy company said on Wednesday.

"Gazprom is supplying Russian gas by transit through the territory of Ukraine in the volume confirmed by the Ukrainian side at the Sudzha gas compressor station: 29.4 million cubic metres on February 1," spokesman Sergei Kupriyanov said in Moscow, Interfax news agency reported.

On Tuesday, Gazprom pumped 24.2 million cubic metres - about 20% less - through Ukraine using the Sudzha facility located in Russia's southern Kursk region.

The increase is likely due to the fact that the price for pipeline gas became more attractive again for wholesalers. In January, prices on the spot market, where short-term gas supply contracts are traded, collapsed due to the relatively warm weather. However, with the start of February contracts for pipeline gas, which is usually traded one month in advance, also became cheaper.

Despite the increase, Russia still delivers significantly less gas to Europe than before the start of the war in Ukraine almost one year ago. Moscow stopped deliveries via the Nord Stream 1 Baltic Sea pipeline in September because of alleged technical problems. Shortly afterwards, an underwater explosion put the pipes completely out of commission.