MOSCOW, September 28. /TASS/. Ukraine had accumulated only about 10.5 billion cubic meters of natural gas in its underground storage facilities by late September, and it is approximately 79.5% of the minimum volume required to get through the cold weather season and about 72% of the planned level of 14.6 billion cubic meters by December 1, according to TASS calculations.

Earlier, Ukraine virtually refused European gas imports citing high prices and gas shortages in EU countries, and it is now replenishing its storage facilities resorting to domestic production, but these volumes will be insufficient for the country’s preparations for the winter season.

If the storage capacity is brought to the level of the minimum required volumes, the country needs to purchase natural gas worth about $1 billion, while the planned level of 14.6 billion cubic meters amounts to about $2.5 billion. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s budget recently faced serious problems.

The heating season in Ukraine officially starts on October 15, but the heating is usually supplied to social infrastructure facilities before that date. Therefore, Ukraine will have to start using up gas reserves in the days to come from storage facilities that have not been filled to the required level.