Ukraine has increased the utilization of the Vojany-Uzhgorod gas pipeline, through which it receives gas from Slovakia, to 100%, Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatseniuk said at a news briefing with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico in Bratislava on Thursday.

"Over the past several weeks, we have significantly increased the volume of gas purchases and have virtually reached the 100% capacity [of the Vojany-Uzhgorod gas pipeline utilization]," Yatseniuk said.

"The volume of gas purchases depends on several factors. The first factor is internal consumption (naturally, it is significantly lower in a summer period). The second is the price for gas. The difference in prices between that at the beginning of the year and the current moment is already $30 per 1,000 cubic meters. Taking into account these two factors, we have decided now to increase the volume of the reverse flow from Slovakia to the maximum and use it 100%," he said.

It was reported earlier that Ukraine has the opportunity to import gas from the EU through the Vojany-Uzhgorod pipeline, daily capacity of which is 40 billion to 41 billion cubic meters of gas. In May-July 2015, Ukraine utilized only 45% to 60% of this pipeline's capacity.