Multicurrency zone introduced in Russian-backed ‘republics’ in eastern Ukraine


Today is the last day when there is only one official currency in Donetsk and Luhansk ‘people republics’.

Traders at Donetsk markets are sticking new price tags on their goods: in Ukrainian hryvnias and Russian rubles. From March 25 in the DPR and March 15 in the LPR one can also pay in dollars and euros. However, not all shops receive foreign currency.

The exchange rate of the Russian currency in unrecognised republics exceeds those of the National Banks of Ukraine and Russia by 10 kopecks (in Donetsk the ruble is sold at 0.5 hryvnia, in Kyiv and Moscow – 0.4).

Earlier, separatist leader Alexander Zakharchenko signed a ‘decree’ saying that salaries and pensions are to be paid in Russian rubles in the DNR.  The ‘Republican Central Bank’ and ‘Donbas Post’ are designated responsible, news agency TASS reports.

Meanwhile, most people in both republics are broke: hryvnias are almost gone, and only a few companies cooperating with Russia paid salaries in Russian rubles.

www.belsat.eu/en/, following segodnya.ua, pravda.com.ua

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