Freezing weather sweeping across Europe has led to a shortage of vital Russian gas supplies to several countries. An EU energy spokeswoman said eight countries have seen a reduction in gas due to increased demand in Russia. She said the situation was not an emergency, but was being monitored. The cold snap is being blamed for scores of deaths in eastern Europe where temperatures have plunged to below minus 35 degree Celsius. Freezing temperatures have spread to Italy and France, and Britain is also on alert for snowfall over the weekend. Meanwhile, Ukraine says more than 100 people have died from the freezing weather, most of them homeless. Authorities have set up nearly 3,000 heating and food shelters across the country and instructed hospitals not to discharge homeless patients. The Polish interior ministry said that eight people died from the cold yesterday and two others died of carbon monoxide poisoning from charcoal heaters.