KIEV, Oct. 6 - The transit of natural gas via Ukraine to Europe increased by 16.3%, to 90.6 billion cubic meters in January-September 2008 compared to the same period of 2007, Ukrtransgaz, the operator of the Ukrainian gas transportation system and a subsidiary of Naftogaz Ukrayiny, said on Monday.

The growth in the gas transit was due to growing demand for Russian gas in Europe, the company said.

Ukrtransgaz said the volume of transit to Europe over nine months was a record high.