According to the Minister of Economy, Ukraine's GDP increased by 3.6% in January and February

KYIV, March 17 (Reuters) – Ukraine's gross domestic product rose 3.6% in the first two months of this year and growth is expected to continue in the first quarter, Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said on Sunday.

“This was due to several factors, including investment demand, favorable weather conditions for construction work, agricultural exports, (and) the operation of the Ukrainian maritime corridor,” Svyrydenko said on Facebook, citing preliminary data.

Other factors to be mentioned include the expansion of production capacities in mining and stability in the energy sector.

“Thanks to the positive development of important economic sectors, we expect sustained growth for the entire first quarter,” she added.

Ukraine's GDP rose 3.5% in January, having grown 5% in 2023 after falling 28.8% a year earlier.

Ukraine's economy was devastated by the Russian invasion in February 2022, as millions fled war, cities and infrastructure were bombed, and logistics, supply chains and exports were disrupted. (Reporting by Pavel Polityuk; Editing by Jan Harvey)