Ukraine, once controlling two thirds of the transit of Russian gas to former Soviet countries, now handles less than a half of the pumping, according to Interfax calculations based on data on Russian and European dispatchers.

Where in the first quarter of 2011 Ukraine handled 63%, a year later that figure was 56%, and in the fourth quarter 55%. In 2012, only Nord Stream put together turnover. Gazprom became a one-hundred percent shareholder in Beltransgaz. So for the entire year there was step-by-step work on shifting transit flow from the Ukrainian corridor to Nord Stream and Yamal-Europe.

At the start of this year, Gazprom presented its Ukrainian colleagues a new 'order' - starting January 1 the use of Ukrainian pipe contracted another 18% (compared with the latter part of last year). Gazprom reduced by 26% pumping via the Uzhgorod corridor, having increased the load on Nord Stream and increasing transportation via the eastern branch OPAL, and began stable deliveries through the western branch NEL.

As a result, the aggregate share of transit through Ukraine in the export of Russian gas amounted to 42% in the first ten days of 2013.