KYIV - Ukraine's annual budget deficit grew by about 33 percent last year, reaching 1.77 trillion hryvnias (about $42 billion), the government-run Ukrinform news agency reported on Tuesday, citing data from the central bank.

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Despite the increase, the deficit was lower than the projected budget gap of 1.85 trillion hryvnias (about $43.8 billion), according to the report by the National Bank of Ukraine.

The document noted that a record influx of foreign aid in December allowed Ukraine to cover state budget expenditures and build a liquidity reserve for early 2025.

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Defense and security, along with social programs were the primary areas of Ukraine's budget spending in 2024.

Last year, Ukraine received $41.7 billion in foreign budget support.