--- title: "The Conscience of the Nation on a Banknote: Ukraine Introduces 2000 Hryvnia Note Featuring Vasyl Stus" description: "πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡¦ Ukraine is introducing a new 2000 hryvnia banknote featuring the portrait of Vasyl Stus β€” a poet and dissident chosen by children as a symbol of the nation. πŸ–‹οΈ The note will be released on September 4 and will be one of the most secure in the world. πŸ’° This will also help save millions on cash logistics." date: 2026-07-10T09:34:00.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/conscience-of-the-nation-on-a-banknote-ukraine-introduces-2000-hryvnia-note-featuring-vasyl-stus tags: [] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # The Conscience of the Nation on a Banknote: Ukraine Introduces 2000 Hryvnia Note Featuring Vasyl Stus ![New 2000 hryvnia banknote featuring portrait of Ukrainian poet and dissident Vasyl Stus, lying on a table among other bills](https://xab.info/media/2026/07/10/novaya-kupΡŽΡ€Π°-2000-griven-s-portretom-vasiliya-stusa/novaya-kupΡŽΡ€Π°-2000-griven-s-portretom-vasiliya-stusa-1.webp) Ukraine is preparing to issue a new banknote, which will become the highest denomination in the history of the national currency. The obverse of the 2000 hryvnia note will feature the portrait of the poet and dissident Vasyl Stus. This was officially announced by the head of the National Bank of Ukraine, Andriy Pyshnyy, during a press briefing. ### Release Date and Symbolic Significance The introduction of the new banknote into circulation is scheduled for September 4 of the current year. This date was not chosen by chance β€” it coincides with the memorial day of Vasyl Stus. The poet, translator, and dissident, known as one of the leaders of the Sixtiers movement, became a symbol of the struggle for truth and freedom. Andriy Pyshnyy called Stus the "conscience of the nation" and a moral absolute. According to the head of the NBU, the poet's readiness to defend his beliefs to the end resonates in the hearts of Ukrainians who are today defending the country's independence. ### How Children Helped Choose the Hero An interesting fact is that the final decision on the choice of the character for the new banknote was made taking into account the opinion of children. The NBU Money Museum held a contest during which schoolchildren drew sketches of banknotes with historical figures they would like to see on the money. Six of the submitted works depicted Vasyl Stus. This became the decisive argument for the bank's management. ### Design and Security The new banknote is executed predominantly in violet-blue and pink tones. The obverse features the poet's portrait, to the right of which is his signature. In the lower left corner, the denomination "2000" with the hryvnia symbol is indicated in large font, and the inscription "TWO THOUSAND" is applied vertically along the right edge. The security of the banknote is ensured by no less than 20 modern security elements, making it one of the most protected in the world. Among them are a security thread with a vertical denomination, a serial number in red in the upper left corner, and other graphic symbols. ### Economic Feasibility The introduction of the new banknote is dictated by the need to optimize logistical processes. In 2025, the National Bank transported hundreds of tons of cash: only 200-hryvnia notes weighed 224 tons, 500-hryvnia notes β€” 264 tons, and 1000-hryvnia notes β€” 245 tons. Replacing part of these notes with 2000-hryvnia notes will reduce transportation costs by 2 times (for 1000 UAH), 4 times (for 500 UAH), and 10 times (for 200 UAH). Furthermore, the new banknote will contribute to savings in the national currency rather than foreign currency. Over the last seven years, the volume of cash in circulation has increased from 390 to more than 970 billion hryvnias, which is related to both economic growth and inflationary processes. ### Cash in Wartime Conditions Despite the rapid growth of non-cash payments β€” from 82% in 2019 to 96% in 2026 β€” cash remains an important tool, especially in frontline zones and during crises. The experience of the full-scale war has shown that access to physical money is critically important for the population in emergency situations. Thus, the appearance of the 2000-hryvnia banknote is not only a tribute to an outstanding poet but also an important step in the development of Ukraine's financial infrastructure.