In Luhansk region, invaders intend to pull hryvnia from circulation

In the occupied Luhansk region, Eastern Ukraine, the Russian invasion forces seek to remove the Ukrainian national currency, hryvnia, from circulation to shift all monetary transactions to Russian roubles.

The Luhansk Regional Military Administration reported this on Telegram, according to Ukrinform.

"From January 1, the hryvnia is going to be withdrawn from circulation in the occupied territories. It will be possible to pay in stores and for services, and cover utility bills exclusively in roubles. From January 1, 2023, residents will be able to exchange cash hryvnia at bank branches," the report states.

At the same time, it is noted that the so-called "government of the Luhansk People’s Republic" retroactively set tariffs for utility services in the recently captured Siverodonetsk, Lysychansk, and Kreminna districts.

"For example, in Siverodonetsk – from July. But what if people never used these services? While the tariff for garbage removal was established, garbage has not been removed since early summer," the administration wrote.

According to the regional officials, water was supplied only to a small number of households in September-October but everyone is obliged to pay for supplies starting July.

"And how can people pay anyway if only the chosen ones get their salaries? In the blink of an eye, people already owe Russia," the statement emphasized.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, citing the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, on November 28-30, nearly 70 wounded Russian soldiers and over 230 bodies of those killed in action were brought to hospitals in the temporarily captured settlements of Donetsk and Luhansk regions.