KIEV, Oct. 3 - Ukraine's imports of natural gas from Europe increased by 40.5%, or by 99 million cubic meters, to 343.2 million cu m in September from 244.2 million cu m imported in August, state gas shipper UkrTransGaz, reported Thursday.

In January through September Ukraine imported about 1.5 billion cu m of gas from Europe, UkrTransGaz said.

As of September 30, Ukraine was importing 1.8 million cu m/day of gas from Poland and 8.9 million cu m/day from Hungary, the company said.