KIEV, March 4 - Ukraine may be forced to shut some steel producing assets after Russian gas giant Gazprom has cut gas supplies to the country by another 25%, UkrRudProm, a steel sector analysis group, reported Tuesday.

Ukraine, the world’s No. 8 biggest producer of steel, depends heavily on natural gas imports from Russia, and further gas supply restrictions may affect the sector, UkrRudProm said.

“I can’t rule out that some steel producing assets will be forced to shut down within seven to 10 days,” said Vasyl Kharakhulakh, the general director of Metallurgprom steel group, quoted by UkrRudProm.