In February, Ukraine's direct external debt increased by 0.03%, or by 2.5 million dollars, and as of February 28 amounted to 8,724.9 million dollars. This is stated in an official report by the Ministry of Finance. \n \nUkraine's direct domestic debt in February increased by 3.95%, or by 865.63 million hryvnias, to 22,753.6 million hryvnias. The total amount of state debt in February increased by 1.2%, or by 836 million hryvnias, to 68,986.8 million hryvnias. \n \nSince the beginning of this year (for January-February), external debt decreased by 0.94%, or by 83.1 million dollars, to 8,724.9 million dollars, domestic debt increased by 8.6%, or by 1,800.6 million hryvnias, to 22,753.6 million hryvnias, and total state debt increased by 1.93%, or by 1,304.5 million hryvnias, to 68,986.8 million hryvnias. According to Ministry of Finance data, the reduction in external debt since the beginning of the year is linked to debt repayment payments exceeding the amount of borrowings and to a decline in the euro exchange rate against the hryvnia. \n \nThe increase in domestic debt is linked to an increase in the volume of issuance of domestic state loan bonds (in January-February the Ministry of Finance sold OVDP worth 2,044.5 million hryvnias). \n \nLet us recall that in January 2005 Ukraine's direct external debt decreased by 0.97%, or by 85.4 million dollars, to 8,722.4 million dollars, direct domestic debt increased by 4.5%, or by 934.67 million hryvnias, to 21,887.97 million hryvnias, the total amount of state debt in January increased by 0.7%, or by 468.5 million hryvnias, to 68,150.8 million hryvnias. \n \nFor 2004 as a whole, external debt increased by 2.97% from 8,554 million dollars to 8,807.8 million dollars, domestic debt - by 2.1% from 20,523 million hryvnias to 20,953.3 million hryvnias. \n \nThe total amount of state debt for 2004 increased by 2.34% from 66,133 million hryvnias to 67,682.3 million hryvnias. \n \nBased on materials from "Ukrainian News"