The National Bank of Ukraine is preparing to introduce into circulation a new banknote of the highest denomination of 2000 UAH. Banks will be able to receive and issue it to clients starting from September 4, 2026. This was reported by the National Bank of Ukraine.
2000 UAH banknote: when will it be possible to use it for payments
The new banknote will become a legal payment instrument on September 4, 2026. From this date, it will gradually be delivered to banks, enterprise cash desks, and ATMs, so it may not appear simultaneously in all branches and self-service devices.
The banknote was presented in advance so that financial institutions could adjust ATMs, payment terminals, and cash verification equipment. The front side of the banknote features Ukrainian poet, dissident, and human rights activist Vasyl Stus.
The launch date is tied to two events. On September 4, 1965, Stus, Viacheslav Chornovil, and Ivan Dziuba protested against the arrests of Ukrainian intelligentsia during the premiere of the film “Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors.” On September 4, 1985, Stus died in the “Perm-36” camp.
Why the NBU decided to introduce the 2000 UAH denomination
The regulator explained the decision by changes in the economy after the introduction of the 1000 UAH banknote in 2019. During this time, the average salary has tripled, the level of prices has doubled, and the total amount of cash has increased from nearly 390 billion UAH to over 970 billion UAH as of July 1, 2026.
1000 UAH banknotes already constitute more than 55% of cash by amount. The new denomination is expected to reduce the number of notes needed for large payments, as well as decrease costs for printing, transporting, cash collection, processing, and storing money.
The NBU emphasizes that cash remains important despite the increase in cashless payments. This is especially relevant for frontline territories and settlements where electronic transactions may be unavailable due to shelling and communication disruptions.