KIEV, July 19 - The National Bank of Ukraine said large increase of wages and social payments by the government is one of the largest risks of failure to meet the inflation target in 2018.

"The expansion of the Ukrainian government's focus on financing of current social expenses could result not only in the acceleration of inflation, but also restriction of public investment and growth of debt burden. It could affect the medium-term prospects for economic growth," the NBU said in proposals to the monetary policy guidelines for 2018.