KIEV, Sept. 26 – The National Bank of Ukraine said Friday the hryvnia’s decline was a “temporary” phenomenon caused by increased purchases of U.S. dollars by Naftogaz Ukrayiny to pay for natural gas imports.

The hryvnia somewhat strengthened on Friday in trading between commercial banks closing at 5.05 to the dollar, compared with 5.08 on Thursday and 5.06 on Wednesday.