MOSCOW, March 5 - Russian gas exporter Gazprom said on Thursday it had received a $15 million prepayment from Ukrainian state energy firm Naftogaz, averting a possible cut in supply, at least for a few days, Reuters reported.

The money is enough to cover 45.6 million cubic meters of gas, or about five days of supply at current rates of delivery, Gazprom said by e-mail.

Gazprom had warned that supply to Kiev could be cut off as soon as Friday if no payment was made.