Ukraine imported 1.504 billion cubic meters of natural gas from Russia and Europe in April 2013, paying a total of $641.524 million, according to State Statistics Service data.

The vast majority of the imports came from Russia - 1.377 billion cubic meters worth $591.909 million. Ukraine also imported 127.426 million cubic meters of gas from Germany and Hungary worth $49.615 million.

It paid $430 per 1,000 cubic meters on average for gas from Russia and $389.40 per 1,000 cubic meters for gas from Europe.

The average price Ukraine paid for Russian gas in April ($430 per 1,000 cubic meters), March ($425.60) and February ($426.10) compared with January ($408.60) rose due to the steep decline in purchases by national energy concern Naftogaz Ukrainy. However, another importer, OstChem Gas Trading AG (Switzerland), sharply increases imports from Russia in February-April.

Ukraine imported a total of 8.574 billion cubic meters of gas worth $3.606 billion in January-April 2013, including 8.324 billion cubic meters of gas from Russia worth $3.508 billion, 232.851 million cubic meters of gas from Germany worth $90.66 million and 18.035 million cubic meters of gas from Hungary worth $7.104 million.

The imports were down 19.5% or 2.072 billion cubic meters of gas in January-April 2013 from the first four months last year, the State Statistics Service said.

In value terms the imports were down 19.3% or by $862.966 million from $4.469 billion in the first four months last year, when Ukraine imported gas solely from Russia.