Russia's energy giant Gazprom has told Bulgaria and Poland that it will halt gas deliveries to the two nations from Wednesday, making them the first countries to have their supplies cut off by Europe's largest supplier.

Polish gas company PGNiG said on Tuesday that it was informed by Gazprom of a "complete suspension of supplies" effective from Wednesday. Warsaw has previously imposed sanctions on Russian individuals and companies over Moscow's "special military operation" in Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has demanded that countries he terms "unfriendly" agree to a scheme under which they would open accounts at Gazprombank and make payments for Russian gas imports in euros or dollars that would be converted into rubles.

Last week, the European Commission said EU companies may be able to work around Russia's demand to receive gas payments in roubles without breaching sanctions if they pay in euros or dollars which are then converted into the Russian currency. 

Polish gas company PGNiG, whose gas deal with Russia expires at the end of this year, has said it would not comply with the new payment scheme and would not extend the contract.

PGNiG also did not extend its gas transit deal with Gazprom in 2020. Since then, the Russian gas provider has had to take part in auctions for pipeline capacity via the Yamal-Europe pipeline from Belarus to Poland.

The Bulgarian Energy Ministry, which had said paying in rubles would pose "significant risks" to the country, said on Tuesday it received a notification that the deliveries of natural gas from Russia's Gazprom Export would be suspended as of Wednesday.

(With input from Reuters)