Ukraine orders utilities to use fuel oil, not gas

KIEV, Jan 6 (Reuters) - Ukraine's government, smarting after Russia stopped gas supplies, said on Tuesday it had ordered regional utilities to start using fuel oil instead of gas.

"Regions have been ordered ... to take necessary measures to prepare and move all heat generation companies to work on reserve fuel -- fuel oil," the government said in a statement.

"A government decision is being prepared which will cover the purchase of necessary fuel oil volumes abroad," it said. (Reporting by Pavel Polityuk, writing by Guy Faulconbridge, editing by Robin Paxton)