The National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) expects the growth of Ukraine's international reserves in 2018 from $15.54 billion to "slightly lower" than $19 billion, deputy head of the NBU Oleh Churiy has said.

"Our forecast by the end of this year is that forex reserves will be slightly lower than $19 billion," he said at a press conference in Kyiv.

Churiy noted that this forecast is based on the understanding that by the end of this year Ukraine will not receive the next tranche from the International Monetary Fund under the EFF program.

"At the same time, we expect next year to receive two tranches for a total of $3-3.5 billion. Due to the receipt of these funds in forex reserves and other related financing from international organizations, in particular, the European Commission, we will be able to replenish our forex reserves in the following year," the banker said.

As reported, Ukraine's international reserves in 2016 increased by 17%, to $15.54 billion. At the beginning of December this year, they amounted to $18.91 billion, or 3.7 months of future imports, increasing in November by 0.9%.

In late October this year, the National Bank announced it expected the continuation of cooperation with the IMF and the growth of reserves to $22.1 billion (or 4.2 months of future imports) at the end of 2018.