KIEV, Dec. 19 - Ukrtransgaz, the operator of the Ukrainian gas transportation system, has said that demands by the Committee for State Material Reserves on the company concerning 1.5 billion cubic meters of natural gas, which was transferred earlier to underground storage facilities, are unjustifiable.

"The groundless of the requirements of the state committee for state material reserve for Ukrtransgaz concerning the return of 1 billion cubic meters of natural gas has been confirmed by a court ruling, which has come into effect," reads a company report, which was published in the Holos Ukrainy newspaper on Tuesday.