Russia Gazprom shuts wells, makes losses in gas row

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's gas row with its neighbor Ukraine has forced Russian gas giant Gazprom (GAZP.MM) to shut down over 100 gas-producing wells, local agencies reported on Sunday, quoting Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

Gazprom has also suffered losses of $800 million due to the row over gas debts and pricing for 2009, which led to a cut-off in Russian gas supplies to Ukraine on January 1.

"Over these days of suspended deliveries through Ukraine, Gazprom suffered losses of about $800 million. Gazprom was forced to stop the work of more than 100 wells," Interfax news agency quoted Putin as saying.

(Reporting by Amie Ferris-Rotman; Editing by Christian Lowe)