KIEV, Jan. 19 - Ukraine??™s overall transit of natural gas to markets in Western and Eastern Europe and the Balkans increased 0.9% on the year to 121.5 bln cubic meters in 2005, up from 120.4bcm shipped in 2004, an Energy and Fuel Ministry official said Thursday.

Ukraine moves Russian gas for exports to Europe, but also moves some of its gas southern regions of Russia.