Key facts
- The National Bank of Ukraine will redesign the lettering on its planned Hr 2,000 banknote.
- Public backlash cited concerns that the inscription too closely resembled a Russian typeface.
- The banknote honors Vasyl Stus, a Ukrainian poet who died in a Russian penal colony.
- The National Bank stated the redesign will not delay the banknote's September 4, 2026, circulation date.
- The new lettering will use the official Cyrillic version of the Bickham Script typeface without changes.
The National Bank of Ukraine announced on July 15 that it will change the lettering on its planned Hr 2,000 banknote after facing public backlash. Concerns were raised that the inscription too closely resembled a Russian typeface, a point of particular sensitivity given that the banknote is set to honor Vasyl Stus, a dissident poet who died in a Russian penal colony in 1985 due to his pro-Ukrainian views.
Andriy Pyshnyy, Governor of the National Bank of Ukraine, stated that while legally there were no issues with the typeface license, the association with the aggressor state's work was unacceptable. He emphasized that a banknote featuring Stus must be flawless and free of any "Russian shadow."
The National Bank confirmed that the new lettering will adhere to the official Cyrillic version of the Bickham Script typeface without modifications. The redesign is not expected to delay the banknote's release, as production has not yet commenced. The Hr 2,000 note is still scheduled to enter circulation on September 4, 2026.