OREANDA-NEWS. After five years of refusal to buy gas in Russia, Ukraine in September for the first time switched to gas imports using a virtual reverse. Previously, such a mechanism was hindered by a transit contract with the Russian energy corporation Gazprom.

Now consumers from Ukraine take about 50 % of the fuel sent by Gazprom through the country. Ukrainian buyers save on transportation costs 10–20 US dollars per thousand cubic meters, since there is no need for physical gas pumping. In fact, Kiev is taking gas intended for transit from Russia to Europe. According to the Ukrainian gas transportation system, 152 million cubic meters of gas arrived from the Russian Federation at the main points of entry into the transit system on September 8, but only 83 million cubic meters came out.

During the period from January to August, Ukraine increased natural gas imports by 30 % compared to the same period last year, to 12.5 billion cubic meters.