From “kopeck” to “shag”: parliamentary committee supports renaming of small coin
15 December 2025 17:01
Ukraine has taken another step toward a symbolic change in the monetary space. The relevant committee of the Verkhovna Rada recommended that the parliament support a bill to rename the “kopiyka” to “shag,” a name that has deep historical roots and political significance in the context of the war with Russia, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
What is proposed to be changed
The Committee on Finance, Taxation, and Customs Policy approved draft law No. 14093, initiated by the National Bank of Ukraine in September 2024. The document envisages changing the name of the small currency unit from “kopiyka” to “shag” without revising its face value.
It is proposed to set the ratio between the kopiyka and the shag at 1:1, and the coins themselves will be in circulation in parallel for some time. The NBU does not plan any special withdrawal of kopiykas.
Arguments of the initiators
In the explanatory note, the authors of the draft law emphasize that the word “kopiyka” is currently used only in states that are hostile or unfriendly to Ukraine. Of the 15 former Soviet republics, it is used only in Russia, Belarus, and unrecognized Transnistria.
Instead, the return of the name “shag,” according to MPs and the NBU, should
- contribute to the de-Sovietization of money circulation,
- restore historical justice,
- emphasize Ukraine’s separation from the Russian symbolic space.
The name “shag” is not new to Ukraine
It has been used since the Hetmanate, as well as during the Ukrainian Revolution of 1917-1921.
In 1918, the Central Rada passed a law on the hryvnia as the monetary unit of the Ukrainian People’s Republic, which provided for the issue of coins in denominations ranging from 1 to 50 shahs. Due to economic and technical difficulties, these coins were never minted, and instead, the State Treasury’s change stamps with values in shahs appeared in circulation.
After regaining its independence in 1991, Ukraine again discussed the possibility of introducing the “shag” – even test samples of coins were made. However, in 1992, the Verkhovna Rada eventually approved the name “kopiyka”.
The committee’s decision does not mean an automatic name change
The committee’s decision does not mean an automatic change of name – the Verkhovna Rada will have the final say in the session hall. If the law is passed, Ukraine will formally abandon the kopiyka as a symbol of Soviet heritage, taking another step toward rethinking its history and identity.
