Russia to Change Currency in Ukrainian Kherson to Ruble

Russia reportedly going to change the currency in the region Ukraine which they have held, Kherson, in rubles from 1 May.

“From May 1, we are converting to rubles,” the deputy head of Kherson’s civil-military administration, Kirill Stremousov, told Russian news agencies, RIA Novosti.

Stremousov said the currency transition would be carried out in stages. First, they will enter a transition period, during which the ruble and Ukrainian currency, the hryvnia, will be used together.

After a four-month transition period, Kherson is said to be using the Russian currency completely.

“Then we will completely divert purchases in rubles,” Stremousov said.

Nevertheless, CNN have not been able to directly verify Stremousov’s statement.

Russia has indeed taken control of the Kherson region some time ago, then appointed a new “puppet” government there.

Ukraine admits that Russia has taken control of Kherson. However, an adviser to the Ukrainian Interior Ministry, Vadym Denysenko, claims that Russia has not been able to hold a referendum there.

“They can’t hold mock referendums, as they did in 2014 in Luhansk and Donetsk, because they realize they don’t have many important people. [untuk mendukung mereka]even to take pictures for the sake of television,” he said.

He also assessed that it was difficult for Russian officials to find many people to facilitate voting in Kherson. Two Kherson officials also told CNN that pro-Russian forces had difficulty holding a planned referendum.

Although there was no referendum in Kherson, Ukraine acknowledged that Russia had already installed a new government in the region. This confirmation was delivered by Hennadii Lahuta, Kherson regional administrator from Ukraine.

Lahuta said the placement of the new government came less than 24 hours after Russian troops took control of Kherson.

He also said that the Russian version of the Mayor of Kherson was held by Volodymyr Saldo, while the Head of Kherson City Administration was held by Oleksandr Kobets.

Balance himself is a former mayor of Kherson who was accused of collaborating with the Russians.

CNN have not received a response from the Balance regarding this news. CNN also unable to contact Kobets.

[Gambas:Video CNN]

(pwn/has)

[Gambas:Video CNN]

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