KIEV, Dec. 20 - Ukraine's gross external debt in January-September grew by 1.95%, or by $2.7 billion, to $137.7 billion, according to the National Bank of Ukraine.

"Relative to GDP, the total debt rose from 76.6% to 77.3% of GDP. The main factor behind these dynamics was the growth of foreign liabilities of the real sector of the economy, while the debt of the monetary and credit regulators and banks continued to decline," reads the report.