KYIV, Feb 11 (Reuters) - Ukraine imposed emergency power

restrictions on Tuesday after overnight and morning attacks by

Russia on gas infrastructure, said Ukraine Energy Minister

German Galushchenko.

"The enemy launched an attack on gas infrastructure

overnight," Galushchenko said in a post on social media. "As of

this morning, the energy sector continues to be under attack."

Galushchenko gave no more details, while Poltava regional

military administration said that as a result of missile

strikes, nine settlements in Myrhorod district were left without

gas supply.

Russia which previously focused its missile and drone

attacks on the Ukrainian electricity sector, has in recent

months sharply stepped up its attacks on the Ukrainian gas

storage facilities and production fields.

Ukraine's underground gas storage facilities are located in

the western part of the country, while the main Ukrainian gas

production capacities are located in the east of the country in

the frontline Kharkiv region, as well as in the Poltava region.

Ukraine's state-run operator of the gas transmission system

said on Tuesday the country would likely increase natural gas

imports to more than 16.7 million cubic metres (mcm) on Tuesday

from 16.3 mcm on Monday.

Ukraine consumes 110-140 mcm of gas a day in winter.

Both the drop in gas production and difficulties with fuel

extraction from emptied underground storage facilities may force

Kyiv to increase the volume of imports.

The operator data suggested Ukraine would import 7.6 mcm of

gas from Hungary, 7.3 mcm from Slovakia and 1.8 mcm from Poland.

Ukraine began sharply increasing its gas imports last week

after a series of Russian missile attacks in recent months

targeted Ukrainian gas sector facilities.