Ukraine's international reserves in December 2013 increased by 8.5%, to $20.416 billion, according to the Web site of the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU).

"The increase in international reserves was primarily due to proceeds from the placement of government securities: foreign equities worth $3 billion and domestic securities worth $806 million," the report reads.

The central bank said that the changes in the amount of reserves were also caused by the Ukrainian government's payments on external and domestic commitments worth $1.321 billion and the foreign exchange interventions of the National Bank of Ukraine, which were carried out to smooth fluctuations in the hryvnia exchange rate.

According to specified data from the National Bank, in late November 2013 the foreign exchange reserves stood at $18.812 billion.

As reported, in November Ukraine's international reserves, according to live data, decreased by 8.9%, to $18.791 billion.

In general, in 2013 Ukraine's international reserves fell by 16.8%, from $24.546 billion.