KIEV, Oct. 22 - Ukraine accumulated 17.6 billion cubic meters of natural gas in its underground storage facilities as of October 22, less than planned, due to rising demand in Europe, a Naftogaz Ukrayiny official said Tuesday.

Ukraine planned to stash 18 Bcm by October 15, the date when high demand season officially begins, which is lower that 19 Bcm that Russia’s Gazprom had said was needed to be stored.