KIEV, June 19 - Naftogaz Ukrayiny is likely to receive $698 million for gas transit in the first half of 2009 - 38.1% less than in the same period of last year, the Ukrainian president's office said.

"Thus, the advance that Naftogaz received for transit in 2009 will deprive the company of transit revenue at the beginning of 2010," the office's socioeconomic development service said.

It said Naftogaz received an advance payment of UAH 16.6 billion ($2.15 billion) for gas transit from Russia's Gazprom this year, while it had budgeted for UAH 15.8 billion.