KIEV, Nov. 3 - The transit of natural gas via Ukraine to Europe increased by 12.6%, to 99.1 billion cubic meters (bcm) in January-October compared to the same period of 2007, Ukrtransgaz, the operator of the Ukrainian gas transportation system and a subsidiary of Naftogaz Ukrayiny, announced 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.