MOSCOW, Jan. 31 - Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller said there are risks for transit shipments of Russian gas to European countries through Ukraine if the cold weather continues.

"When preparing for this winter, Ukraine created an unusually low amount of gas reserves in its underground storage facilities. Furthermore, it began withdrawing [gas] earlier than usual and is doing so very intensively. In the event of a serious, extended cold spell, the productivity of storage facilities might not be enough to cover Ukraine's domestic needs," Miller said in an interview with Rossiyskaya Gazeta published on Tuesday.