KIEV, June 25 - Ukraine asked the IMF on Wednesday to take into account the extra financial burden of fighting an insurgency in the east as it decides on further disbursement of aid under a $17 billion bailout program, Reuters reported.

The ex-Soviet republic received a first tranche of about $3.2 billion from a two-year aid package to shore up depleted foreign currency reserves and support the state budget. An International Monetary Fund mission is now in Kiev to review economic performance before disbursing a second slice of aid.