KIEV, March 4 - Ukraine’s transit of Russian natural gas to Europe rose by 22.6% year-on-year to 23.3 billion cubic meters in January-February, up from 19 billion cu m a year ago, the state-owned natural gas shipping monopoly UkrTransGaz reported Tuesday.

KIEV, March 4 - Ukraine may be forced to shut some steel producing assets after Russian gas giant Gazprom has cut gas supplies to the country by another 25%, UkrRudProm, a steel sector analysis group, reported Tuesday.

Ukraine, the world’s No. 8 biggest producer of steel, depends heavily on natural gas imports from Russia, and further gas supply restrictions may affect the sector, UkrRudProm said.

KIEV, March 4 - Ukraine may start using Russian natural gas supplies to Europe if Gazprom’s gas supply restrictions persist and start affecting domestic gas consumers, Naftogaz Ukrayiny, the national oil and gas company, warned Tuesday.

KIEV, March 2 ??“ The Seven Hills development company will soon start three real estate development projects in Kiev City and Kiev region, Seven Hills Director General Arie Schwartz said.

KIEV, March 2 ??“ Most of Ukrainian food contains genetically modified ingredients, and there are no laws that should restrict their use in the country, Volodymyr Semenovich, the head of Ukrmetrteststandart's research center, said.

KIEV, March 2 ??“ Roshen confectionary, Ukraine's largest confectionary producer, plans in 2007 to increase sales by 34.6% year-on-year, to $700 million, the company reported. Last year Roshen sold products worth $520 million.

KIEV, March 2 ??“ Skoda Auto, the Czech car producer, told the Czech government that it may move some of its car manufacturing assets to Ukraine unless the government stops appreciation of the national currency, the koruna.

KIEV, March 2 ??“ Industrial Union of Donbas and Illich Steel denied reports that they had been holding talks with Mittal Steel Kryviy Rih to create a joint venture to commission a huge ore producer.

KIEV, March 2 - Ukraine, the world??™s seventh largest producer of steel, will probably increase steel output by 2.9% on the year to 42 million metric tons in 2007, a senior government official said Friday.

KIEV, March 2 - Ukraine??™s steel sector is facing uncertainty as the Constitutional Court has started to review an appeal from a group of lawmakers seeking to cancel the sell-off of the country??™s second largest steel mill.