Payment issues linked to U.S. sanctions on Russia were behind the latest halt in oil supplies by Russia to the Czech Republic via the Druzhba pipeline, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.

Oil deliveries to the Czech Republic from Russia through the Druhzba pipeline have been halted, the state company operating the pipeline network said Tuesday. It was not immediately clear why oil deliveries stopped via the pipeline,

Czech authorities prepare oil supplies from reserves and work to fully replace Russian oil via alternative routes

A halt in oil supplies by Russia to the Czech Republic on Tuesday via the Druzhba pipeline is due to payment issues between Czech refineries' Polish owner and Russian suppliers, the Czech industry minister was cited as saying.

Czechia has stopped receiving Russian oil through the Druzhba pipeline. The country is prepared for such a development, the Czech oil pipeline operator MERO ČR reports. "We have information about the cessation of oil supplies to Czechia via the Druzhba pipeline.