NBU estimates Ukraine's int'l reserves at $15.3 bln as of Dec 1

"We estimate reserves we plan to have as of December 1 at about $15.3 billion. Perhaps, this figure could be adjusted later, but it is about $15.3 [billion]," NBU Deputy Governor Oleh Churiy said on Thursday, December 1.

Read alsoUkraine posts balance of payments surplus worth US$1.1 bln in 10 monthsSpeaking about change in the reserves by the end of the year, he said that the regulator still formally takes into account $1.3 billion Ukraine expects to borrow from the International Monetary Fund, when it gives its forecasts for the forex and gold reserves.

From the beginning to the end of November 2016, the reserves shrank by 1.3%, or $200 million.

Read alsoGontareva: Ukraine's forex reserves will shrink without IMF loansAs UNIAN reported earlier, Ukraine's international reserves did not change much in October 2016, amounting to $15.514 billion as of November 1, 2016.

Late in October, the NBU revised upwards its forecast for the country's international reserves as of the end of the year to $17.5 billion from $17.2 billion.

In 2015, Ukraine saw a 77% increase in its forex reserves, which expanded by $5.767 billion, to $13.3 billion as of January 1, 2016.