KIEV, Feb. 27 - Gaz Ukrayina, a well-connected Ukrainian gasoline trader, is close to acquiring Lukoil Odessa oil refinery, a newspaper reported, citing a person familiar with the matter.

Serhiy Kurchenko, 28, the head of Gaz Ukrayina, used his government connections to help Lukoil receive 200 million hryvnias in tax rebates, opening the door for the deal, Zerkalo Nedeli newspaper reported.