Gazprom, Russian state-owned energy company, will stop supplying gas to Finland on Saturday over the latter’s refusal to pay for Russian gas in roubles.

Gasum, Finland’s state-owned energy company, confirmed this in a statement on Friday.

“On the afternoon of Friday May 20, Gazprom Export informed Gasum that natural gas supplies to Finland under Gasum’s supply contract will be cut on Saturday May 21, 2022 at 07.00,” the statement read in part.

“Starting from tomorrow, during the upcoming summer season, Gasum will supply natural gas to its customers from other sources through the Balticconnector pipeline. Gasum’s gas filling stations in the gas network area will continue in normal operation.”

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Finland’s exclusion from Russia’s gas trade partnership comes a few days after it announced its plan to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO).

Both Finland and Sweden applied for NATO membership to reinforce their national security. They cited Russia’s aggression against Ukraine as one of the factors considered before approaching NATO.

Russia had stated that it would not sell its gas and oil to “unfriendly” nations unwilling to pay in roubles, and on May 15, it will also cut electricity supplies to Finland.

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“It is highly regrettable that natural gas supplies under our supply contract will now be halted. However, we have been carefully preparing for this situation and provided that there will be no disruptions in the gas transmission network. We will be able to supply all our customers with gas in the coming months,” Mika Wiljanen, Chief Executive of Gasum, said.

Russia stopped supplying gas to Poland and Bulgaria in April. Both nations have turned to their European neighbours for gas imports. Like Poland and Bulgaria, Finland may look to its European neighbours for gas henceforth.