The kopeck is being abolished in Ukraine – the country wants to break away from Russian symbolism

Ukraine plans to replace its coins labeled “kopeke” with the new name “shah.” This is part of an effort to free itself from ongoing Russian cultural influence—another step in the process of detaching from Moscow since the Russian invasion began in 2022.

The governor of the National Bank of Ukraine, Andriy Pyshnyj, expressed hope that this step could be completed by 2025. The name “shah” has historical roots in the Ukrainian monetary system of the 16th and 17th centuries, as well as in Ukraine's revolutionary period from 1917 to 1921.

Parliament is preparing a bill to rename the coin, while the National Bank is organizing public discussions and awareness campaigns. According to Pyshnyj, it is important to sever all ties with Moscow and restore Ukraine's own historical monetary identity.

The new currency unit will be used in parallel with the old coins, and the transition will not incur any additional costs.

(reuters, sie)