Russia's Economy Minister says GDP to shrink 2.5-2.8 percent in 2015: RIA

"This year as a whole we expect a 2.5-2.8 percent fall in GDP," RIA quoted him as saying during a visit to Voronezh.

The ministry officially forecasts that GDP will contract by 2.8 percent this year, but Ulyukayev had previously said the decline may be less than this.

(Reporting By Jason Bush; editing by Ralph Boulton)