KIEV, April 9 - Ukraine is preparing for a potential disruption of Russian gas supplies, Energy and Coal Industry Minister Yuriy Prodan said Wednesday.

"I understand that any decision could be taken today, even to halt gas supplies to Ukraine as well as to Europe," Prodan told a press conference in Kiev.

Concerns reached a new pitch after Kiev missed a deadline to pay for its March gas supplies and to reduce its $2.2 billion debt owed to Russia for gas.