In December 2004, Ukraine's direct external debt decreased by 0.05%, or by 4.1 million dollars, amounting to 8,807.8 million dollars as of December 31. This is reported by "Ukrainian News". \n \nAccording to the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine, Ukraine's direct domestic debt in December 2004 decreased by 1.2%, or by 257.65 million hryvnias - to 20,953.3 million hryvnias. The total amount of state debt in December 2004 decreased by 0.4%, or by 286.5 million hryvnias - to 67,682.3 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 - 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 \nAccording to Ministry of Finance data, the increase in direct external debt in 2004 is linked to the issuance during this period of eurobonds worth 1.1 billion dollars, and the increase in domestic debt – to the issuance of domestic state loan bonds for the repayment of overdue budgetary debt on value added tax totaling 1.926 billion hryvnias.