KIEV, March 22 - Ukraine's gross foreign debt increased 2%, or by $2.6 billion, to $135.05 billion, in the last quarter of last year, the National Bank of Ukraine says.

The debt increased 7%, or by $8.81 billion during 2012 as a whole (7.6%, or by $8.89 billion, in 2011).

Foreign debt in the state management sector increased 2%, or by $549 million, to $27.33 billion in Q4, the NBU says. Foreign debt among monetary-lending regulators contracted 13.6%, or by $764 million, to $4.85 billion, or 3.2% of GDP.

Debt among banks decreased 4.6%, or by $1.04 billion, to $21.55 billion in October-December.