Ukraine has lowered natural gas reserves in its underground gas storage facilities by 6.5%, or by 1.089 million cubic meters, since the start of the 2014-2015 heating season, according to preliminary data from gas transport operator Ukrtransgaz.

As of October 20, Ukrainian facilities had 16,749,640,000 cubic meters of gas, while this figure was 15,660,520,000 cubic meters on November 8.

As reported, Ukraine began using gas from underground gas storage facilities on October 20, raising around 10 billion cubic meters (bcm) from the facilities on the first day.

By December 31, 2013, Ukraine's underground depots contained 14.765 bcm of gas, including 13.95 billion stored in the depots of Ukrtransgaz and 813 million in the depot of Chornomornaftogaz. As of April 1, 2014, natural gas stocks in Ukrtransgaz depots totaled 7.202 bcm.

Last year Ukraine pumped 11.635 bcm of gas into its underground depots, but took out 12.67 bcm, 8.9% more than it had put in. Of the amount that was removed, 12.33 bcm were taken out of Ukrtransgaz's depots and 337 million out of Chornomornaftogaz's depot.

Ukraine's 13 underground depots can hold around 32 bcm of gas. Ukrtransgaz operates 12 of them (31 bcm) plus the country's gas pipeline network. Chornomornaftogaz operates one depot (1 bcm).

After Crimea's accession, Ukraine's national oil and gas company Naftogaz Ukrainy had not been receiving information from Chornomornaftogaz since March 14, 2014, on the storage, extraction, transport or use of natural gas, oil or condensate.

The throughput capacity of Ukraine's gas-transport system is 288 bcm) at intake and 178.5 bcm at outtake, including 142.5 bcm to Europe and 3.5 bcm to Moldova.