KIEV, Feb. 22 - Natural gas reserves in underground storage facilities in Ukraine shrank by 17.8% to 19.368 billion cubic meters (bcm) in January 2008, the Ukrainian Fuel and Energy Ministry told Interfax.

A total of 4.089 bcm of gas was taken out of storage facilities operated by Ukrtransgaz in January, including 1.94 bcm by Naftogaz Ukrayiny, 1.036 bcm by UkrGaz-Energo and 0.61 bcm by RosUkrEnergo AG.