"The central control department of the national gas transportation operator estimates that 2015 transits through the country [Ukraine] to Europe reached 64.2 billion cubic meters, to Moldova – 2.9 billion," the company said in a statement.
This is 4.9 billion cubic meters more than in 2014. Russian gas transits through Ukraine dropped by 28 percent to 62.2 billion cubic meters over the same period, of which 42.6 billion was designated for Ukraine’s home consumption.
Around half of all Russian gas produced annually, or 80 billion cubic meters, is currently delivered to the European Union through Ukraine.
Moscow has repeatedly voiced concerns over Ukraine's reliability as a key transit route. Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said last spring that Russia would most likely stop gas supplies through Ukraine when the existing contract expires in 2019.
