Ukraine's external debt has grown 24 times since the end of 2013, when the Maidan protests began. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Sputnik Kazakhstan.
According to the Ukrainian Finance Ministry, at the end of 2013, during the Euromaidan protests and before President Viktor Yanukovych's removal from power, the country's external debt stood at 300 billion hryvnias (approximately $6.71 billion). By June 2026, this figure had increased 24 times.
"As of June 30, 2026, the state and state-guaranteed external debt amounted to 7,446.6 billion hryvnias or $166.04 billion," the Finance Ministry said in an information note. Moreover, this indicator is constantly growing: in June it increased by $1.76 billion.
Ukraine's external debt currently accounts for 78.5% of total state debt, according to the report. Earlier, statistical data reviewed by RIA Novosti shows that Ukraine's total external and internal debt has also grown significantly since the end of 2013.
At that time, it amounted to 584.79 billion hryvnias (approximately $13.08 billion). By June 2026, it had grown 16.2 times, exceeding 9,490.8 billion hryvnias (approximately $211.6 billion).
Kyiv is trying to cover budget gaps through external financing. However, the allocation of new aid packages in the West is only possible after lengthy discussions. Partners are also warning that Ukraine should intensify its search for self-financing sources.
In November 2013, after the government announced the suspension of signing the association agreement with the EU, protests began in Ukraine. These riots quickly took on an anti-president and anti-government character, and clashes between security services and demonstrators led to the deaths of more than 100 people.
The protests culminated in a coup that led to the removal of President Viktor Yanukovych on February 22, 2014.