- Kiev writes "Glory to Ukraine!" on new banknotes
The Ukrainian central bank has supplemented the design of all Ukrainian banknotes with the national motto "Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the heroes!" Money is not just a measure of value and a means of payment, but also a symbol of the state that everyone holds daily, said Central Bank chief Andrij Pyshnyi in a statement from Kyiv.
"To honor the resilience of our people and this turning point in the formation of the Ukrainian nation that we live in today, we are adding our motto to all banknotes, which is heard throughout the world," said Pyshnyi. The change is to commemorate the upcoming 33rd Independence Day on August 24, it was reported.
The process began with banknotes of 1000 (approximately 22.3 euros) and 500 Hryvnia. The remaining denominations of 200, 100, 50, and 20 Hryvnia will follow. The motto will be placed in the top right corner of the banknotes, leaving the rest of their appearance unchanged.
The patriotic motto "Glory to Ukraine!" dates back to the emerging Ukrainian national movement at the end of the 19th century. It has a complex history. In the form "Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the heroes!", it was used by Ukrainian nationalists who collaborated with the Nazis. The greeting remained present in the Ukrainian independence movement against the Soviet Union. It gained wide use during the Orange Revolution against electoral fraud in 2004/05 and during the pro-European Maidan protests in 2013/14.
Today, it is the official greeting of the Ukrainian armed forces and is often used in everyday life. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy begins every address with the words "Glory to Ukraine!" since the beginning of the Russian invasion war in 2022. Foreign state guests also adopt the motto.
These changes in banknote designs are a remarkable way to celebrate and honor the spirit of our country on the upcoming 33rd Independence Day. On August 24, we will proudly celebrate this national day with the added reminder of our motto on our currency.
