KIEV, June 19 - The volume of gas in underground storage facilities in Ukraine dwindled by 8.47 billion cubic meters or 31% during the first five months of 2009 to 18.82 billion cubic meters, the Ukrainian president's office said.

Ukraine took 11.326 bcm out of storage in the first quarter of 2009 and 2.85 bcm in April-May.

Oleh Dubyna, chief of Ukraine's Naftogaz, said on June 5 that gas had been pumped underground since April 7 and that the national oil and gas company's subsidiaries Ukrtransgaz and Chornomornaftogaz had already stored more than 19 bcm.