OREANDA-NEWS. September 29, 2008. State (direct) and state guaranteed debt of Ukraine fell by 1.4% or USD 250 million in August 2008, to USD 17.384 billion. According to the Finance Ministry, total state debt decreased by 1.1% or USD 190 million from the beginning of this year.

"A correlation between the state and state guaranteed debt by August 31, 2008, and forecasted GDP for 2008 is 8.9%, which is acceptable from the view of the country's financial security," reads the statement.

According to the ministry, state (direct) and state guaranteed external debt of Ukraine made up USD 13.604 billion by August 31, including a decrease of 1.4% or USD 200 million in August and a decrease of 1.8% or USD 240 million from early 2008.

State (direct) and state guaranteed internal debt was USD 3.78 billion (including direct debt of USD 3.51 billion) by early September. In August, it fell by 1.3% or USD 50 million, while it grew by 1.5% or USD 60 million from the beginning of 2008.

In all, according to the Finance Ministry, Ukraine's state direct debt amounted to USD 14.18 billion by August 31, while state guaranteed debt USD 3.2 billion.

In 2007, Ukraine's total state debt rose by 10.2% or USD 1.62 billion, to USD 17.57 billion.