KIEV, Aug. 28 - Gas consumption in Ukraine decreased by 7.3% year-over-year in January-July, or by 2.602 billion cubic meters (bcm), to 32.96 bcm, the country's Energy and Coal Industry Ministry said in a statement.

Gas consumption in July alone was down by 16% or by 386 million cubic meters year-over-year, to 2.028 bcm.

Ukrainian gas imports plummeted by 39% or by 11.986 bcm, to 18.738 bcm in January-July 2012. This drop was associated with the purchase by national oil and gas company Naftogaz Ukrayiny of large amounts of gas over the three months in the fulfillment of a Stockholm arbitration court ruling on the return to Switzerland's RosUkrEnergo of 12.1 bcm. The reduction in Ukraine's Russian gas imports was connected with its intention to cut such purchases due to high prices.