The fallen Ukrainian city of Kherson is being told to use Russian rubles when invaders tighten their grip on the conquered region
- An occupied territory of Kherson will use the Russian ruble from Sunday
- The pro-Russian committee announced the move to the Russian news agency RIA
- Currency conversion should last four months, will circulate with the Ukrainian hryvnia
The occupied territory of Kherson will use the Russian ruble from Sunday as Moscow tightens its grip on the region.
An official of a pro-Russian committee that describes itself as the region’s “military-civilian administration” announced the move via Russia’s RIA news agency.
Kirill Stremousov said the changeover to the ruble will take up to four months, during which time it will circulate alongside Ukraine’s official currency, the hryvnia.
This week Russia said it had gained full control of the southern region.
Russia appointed its own mayor in the city of Kherson on Tuesday after taking over the regional headquarters.
But Ukrainian Mayor Ihor Kolykhayev said on Facebook he had defied Russian orders.
The occupied territory of Kherson will use the Russian ruble (pictured a ruble coin outside the Kremlin in Moscow) from Sunday as Moscow tightens its grip on the region, a transition that may take four months and circulate with the Ukrainian currency, the hryvnia
“I’m staying in Kherson with the people of Kherson, who have entrusted the management of our city to me,” he added.
“I refused to cooperate with the new government.”
It was announced that the powers of the “Mayor of Kherson” will be transferred to Oleksandr Kobets, in accordance with the order of the Regional Military Commander of the Russian Federation.
He, in turn, will report to the new head of the “Kherson Regional Administration”, Volodymyr Saldo.
Mr. Kobets said that starting this week he will coordinate all processes that ensure the functioning of the city.
Mr Kolykhayev said he has asked the Office of the President of Ukraine for detailed instructions on what the mayor and his colleagues should do in response to the current situation.
It comes as Russian forces used tear gas and stun grenades to crush a pro-Ukraine rally in the occupied city on Wednesday.
The protest was organized on the day Kyiv said Russia was planning to hold a referendum to create a breakaway region like that in eastern Ukraine.
Thousands of people have fled Kherson to Ukrainian-controlled territory amid water shortages, acute shortages of food and medicines.