War takes its toll as Ukraine GDP plunges 15.2% in Q4

Kiev

UKRAINE'S worst recession since 2009 intensified last quarter, highlighting the nation's challenge after sealing a US$17.5 billion bailout and agreeing on a truce in the war that's devastated its industrial base.

Gross domestic product fell a preliminary 15.2 per cent on an annual basis, the most in more than five years, the state statistics office said on Monday. That's more than the 13.4 per cent median estimate of four economists in a Bloomberg survey and compares with a 5.3 per cent contraction in the previous three months.