KIEV, Dec. 17 - Ukraine's gross foreign debt (state and corporate debt) grew by $19.821 billion, or 36.4%, to $74.333 billion in January through September, the National Bank of Ukraine said.

The country's gross foreign debt grew by $8.985 billion, or 13.8%, in the third quarter alone.

The foreign debt of the state administration sector rose by $0.321 billion, or 2.5%, to $13.215 billion in the nine months, with the issue of long-term debt-backed securities growing $0.186 billion to $6.542 billion and long-term loans increasing $0.135 billion to $6.673 billion. The foreign debt of the state sector rose $0.47 billion in the third quarter.