KIEV, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- The National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) on Friday has issued a decree, forbidding the country's banks and other financial institutions to circulate Russian newly-issued banknotes, which use images of Crimea.
In a statement on its website, the NBU said the ban applies to all financial operations, including cash transactions, currency exchange activities and interbank trade.
The new rules also prohibit Ukraine's state postal service to use the Russian bank bills depicting Crimea in their operations.
The ban will enter into the force on Oct.17.
On Thursday, the Russian Central Bank unveiled new Russian 200 and 2,000 ruble banknotes, which use the images of Crimea and the Far East respectively.
The autonomous republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol were absorbed into Russia in March 2014 following a referendum, which was recognized by Moscow but rejected by Kiev.
