Pressure gauge: on a gas pipe covered with snow at the gas-compressor station in the small Ukrainian city of Boyarka near Kiev
Gas flows through Ukraine tumble
Gas transit from Central Asia and Russia through Ukraine towards Europe fell 37.1% in the first seven months of this year compared to the same period a year ago.
The State Statistics Committee did not give figures for the volume of gas transported through Ukrainian territory but according to last year's statistics, 74 billion cubic metres of gas was sent through Ukraine.
In the full year of 2008, some 120 billion cubic metres of gas was transited through Ukraine. Russia sends 80% of its gas exports to Europe through its southern neighbour.
Europe and the former Soviet region have slashed their gas consumption this year as the global economic crisis hits their industries and production slows, reported Reuters.