On Monday, deputy economic development minister Andrei Klepach said outflow was $17 billion in January, citing "the difference in changes in reserves and the balance of current operations," Gazeta.ru reported.
Ulyukayev revised that figure down Tuesday but said it was still a significant sum.
"This is preliminary data so far — exact [data] will come in a month — but all the same it is a very large figure, practically the same as it was in November and December," the deputy finance minister told Gazeta.ru.
Net outflow was torrential in the second half of 2011 and peaked in the fourth quarter at $37.4 billion. The cash exodus for last year totaled $84.2 billion, the second-highest level since 1994.