Russian gas shipments via Ukraine to Hungary halted today and the Hungarian government said it would ask some power plants to switch to alternative fuel by 1000 GMT on Wednesday, according to Reuters. "I would like to inform you that gas shipments from Ukraine continuously declined today and at 1430 GMT they completely stopped," Transport and Energy Minister Csaba Molnar told a news conference. He also said the government would consider freeing up strategic gas reserves and if necessary would make this decision on Wednesday morning.