KIEV, April 27 - Ukraine's economy is likely to shrink by 8-10% this year rather than post growth of 0.4% as forecast by the government, President Viktor Yushchenko's top adviser said, Reuters reported Monday.

"The real decline in the Ukrainian economy this year will be minus 8-10 percent," Oleksander Shlapak told a news conference. "It will be clear to everyone that growth of 0.4% and inflation of 9.5% are practically unreachable."