The managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Kristalina Georgieva, yesterday praised the management of Ukraine's economy, with a "fully operational" banking system despite the war, and pledged continued support for Kiev.

"I've seen an economy that is functioning despite the tremendous challenges. Stores are open, services are being provided and people are going to work. This is a remarkable legacy for the spirit of the Ukrainian people," Georgieva said in a statement issued by the IMF and quoted by Lusa, after visiting Ukraine, from where she left for Warsaw, Poland.

She stressed that "government agencies and economic institutions are functioning very well", collecting taxes and paying salaries and pensions, despite the attacks on relevant infrastructure.

The Ukrainian economy, he added, "is adapting and a gradual economic recovery is expected this year".

"In my meetings I reiterated the IMF's unwavering commitment to continue supporting Ukraine," Georgieva said, noting that in addition to last year's emergency financing, the IMF has made a commitment to the Ukrainian authorities through the PMB monitoring program.

According to the representative, the program "provides a strong anchor for macroeconomic policies and helps catalyze greater donor support".

"The outcome of the PMB has been strong and paves the way for discussions on a full IMF financing program," he added.

The managing director of the IMF visited Ukraine on Monday at the same time as US President Joe Biden and met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, Finance Minister Sergii Marchenko and the president of the Central Bank of Ukraine, Andriy Pyshnyy.

Kristalina Georgieva praised Zelensky and Shmyhal for "their strong leadership" and commended the Ukrainian authorities "for their impressive economic management in the midst of exceptionally tough circumstances, adapting their policies to manage large and complex shocks".

"Their intention is to move from a period of recovery to a period of transformation and reconstruction and membership of the European Union," said Georgieva, who paid tribute to the people of Ukraine "for their strength of spirit and resilience in the face of a devastating war that claimed too many lives and caused widespread destruction and immense suffering."

"It broke my heart to see with my own eyes the anguish of ordinary citizens and the cost that the Russian invasion is causing in Ukraine," he added.

The Russian military offensive has plunged Europe into what is considered the most serious security crisis since World War II in the 1940s.

The number of civilians killed in the war and confirmed by the United Nations exceeded 8,000 yesterday, announced the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, adding that 13,287 civilian casualties were also recorded.