Defense is top priority for Ukraine, says central bank governor

WASHINGTON, April 24 (Reuters) - The attacks on Ukraine's capital Kyiv overnight made clear that the country's top priority needs to be on defense, central bank governor Andriy Pyshnyi said on Thursday.

Russia pounded Kyiv with missiles and drones overnight, killing at least eight people, wounding more than 70 and smashing buildings in the biggest attack on the Ukrainian capital this year.

"When we are talking about priorities, it seems to me that last night was a very clear evidence and good demonstration there is no priority other than defense," the governor said on a panel on the sidelines of the IMF World Bank meeting in Washington.

Speaking at the same event, Finance Minister Serhii Marchenko said Ukraine's government was working on ways to boost its capacity to produce weapons for its military beyond its current capacity of 30%.

"For us, security is the most critical element of our reconstruction, and everyone dreams about reconstruction."