Russia Jan-May gas exports via Ukraine down 45.5pct

KIEV, June 18 (Reuters) - Russian gas export to Europe via the territory of Ukraine fell by 45.5 percent in January-May 2009, year-on-year, Ukraine's energy ministry said on Thursday.

The figure was a slight improvement from a decline of 50 percent seen in the first four months of 2009.

Russian gas exports have plunged as European customers have delayed purchases of expensive Russian gas in anticipation of prices declining in line with much lower oil prices. (Reporting by Pavel Polityuk; writing by Dmitry Zhdannikov, + 7 495 775 12 42, dmitri.zhdannikov@reuters.com)