Interfax-Ukraine cited Mr Yuriy Boiko Energy and Coal Industry Minister of Ukraine as saying that the chemical enterprises belonging to businessman Dmytro Firtash which received Central Asian gas through Ostchem Holding Ltd have suspended imports because of high prices.

He said that "They received Central Asian gas, but as far as I know the process has been stopped as the gas price grew."

From the start of the year, Ukraine sharply almost by 3 times reduced the taking of imported gas. In late 2011 the daily taking of gas was 100 million cubic meters to 110 million cubic meters and from early January the volume started falling significantly and by January 9 the figure declined to 33.3 million cubic meters.

(Sourced from Interfax-Ukraine)