KIEV, August 25. /ITAR-TASS/. Ukraine pumped 278 million cubic meters of gas into its underground storage facilities between August 15 and August 22, raising the volume of stored gas to 15.5 billion cubic meters, according to the data provided by the GSE association on Monday.

Ukraine’s underground storage facilities are now 48.49% loaded. Ukraine pumps gas, which it receives in a reverse mode from Europe and produces locally.

In May, Russian gas giant Gazprom said Ukraine must have 18.5 billion cubic meters of gas in the storages to ensure flawless transit to the EU in the next winter season.

Ukraine has 12 underground gas storages with a total capacity of around 31 billion cubic meters.

In June, Gazprom switched Ukraine off gas over unpaid debt while continuing pumping gas to the EU.