Ukraine’s Central Bank Issues 2,000 Hryvnia Note Featuring Poet Vasyl Stus

Honoring Vasyl Stus with a New Banknote

According to РБК-Україна — Lite: The National Bank of Ukraine unveiled a new 2,000 hryvnia banknote bearing the portrait of Vasyl Stus on July 10, 2026, with its official circulation set to begin on September 4, the poet’s day of remembrance. The note, designed in violet-blue and pink tones, features a line from Stus’s poetry on the front and an image of the Faculty of Philology at Vasyl Stus Donetsk National University on the reverse. This release is part of a broader series celebrating prominent Ukrainian historical figures.

Musical Tributes to Stus

A range of musical works has been created to honor Stus’s legacy, including:

• The song 'Cemetery of Souls' by the band 'Pyrih i Batih,' featured on the album 'Tortured. First Toll.' This album also includes pieces by other Ukrainian poets such as Mykola Voronyi, Volodymyr Svidzinskyi, and Vasyl Vyshyvanyi.
• The track 'Didn’t Live to See' by rapper Stepan Burban (Palindrom, Kashechiy Ed), which serves as the soundtrack for the documentary 'Your Vasyl.' Its lyrics draw from Stus’s poem 'Didn’t Live to See the Harvest.'
• The song 'In Memory of Vasyl Stus' by the band 'The Frunk,' blending two poems from the collection 'Palimpsests'-a work compiled not by Stus himself but by KGB investigators. This track was released in January 2019.
• A re-release of Maria Burmaka’s song 'Return to Me, My Memory' as part of the 2019 project 'This Is How Memory Works,' dedicated to Dana Didyk, who died in a terrorist attack during the March of Unity in February 2015.
• The piece 'Not Loving You Is Impossible' by Solomiia Chubai for the project 'Chubai. Ukraine. Love,' created in collaboration with the bands 'Dzhalapita,' ROCKOKO, and the INSO Lviv Symphony Orchestra.
• The mini-album 'On Verses' by the band 'Fiolet,' featuring five songs set to poems by Ukrainian poets, including a Stus piece performed with singer Margaryta Tyshkevych.
• The song 'The Heart Beats' by the Kharkiv-based band 'Fever,' based on Stus’s poetry and included in the album 'The Power of Poetry,' which also features works by authors like Maiko Yohansen and Serhiy Zhadan.

According to Andriy Pyshnyi, the inclusion of Stus logically completes the historical series of prominent Ukrainians depicted on banknotes. Musicians from the band 'Fever' noted that poetry acts as a key, unlocking new dimensions and interpretations in music. Both the musical tributes and the new banknote serve as testaments to the recognition of Stus’s contributions to Ukrainian culture and identity.

The issuance of the new banknote featuring Vasyl Stus, along with the accompanying musical works, underscores the importance of his creative legacy in Ukrainian culture. These events not only commemorate the poet but also highlight his enduring influence on modern Ukrainian identity, as his words continue to inspire new generations of artists. Honoring Stus across different art forms reflects the deep connections between literature and music within the framework of national memory.

As the new 2,000 hryvnia banknote featuring Vasyl Stus prepares for its official circulation, it's essential to explore the broader cultural impact of this release. The introduction of this banknote coincides with various artistic tributes that celebrate Stus's enduring legacy. For a deeper understanding of the significance behind this initiative, check out more about the recently announced banknote honoring Stus.