Ukraine in the period of the non-heating season seeks to pump 8.2 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas to its underground gas storage (UGS) facilities, Energy and Coal Industry Minister Ihor Nasalyk told journalists in Kyiv on Thursday.

"We project that we will pump 8.2 bcm of gas to UGS facilities," he said.

The minister said that gas would be purchased in Europe. If Russia offers a competitive price and signs the required protocol, some gas could be purchased in Russia, he added.