British Gas owner follows BP and Shell in cutting Russia ties

Gazprom supplies gas to Centrica, which it then sells to British households. Photograph: Sergei Ilnitsky/EPA

The British Gas owner Centrica has become the third big British energy firm to cut ties with Russia within a week, echoing BP and Shell by announcing the end of its gas supply agreement with Kremlin-controlled Gazprom.

Chris O’Shea, the Centrica chief executive, said: “We are shocked by the events unfolding in Ukraine and the needless loss of lives.