After their military captured of the city, Russians tried to implement the "economic integration" of Kherson into the Russian sphere. Russian currency – the ruble – began to be introduced into circulation. During the first months of the occupation, shops accepted both rubles and hryvnias, but Ukrainian banks started closing one by one. Those who were still working had to wait in line for cash from 5 o'clock in the morning. It was also possible to exchange currency or get money from a Ukrainian bank credit card illegally - from the so-called "exchangers". Later Russians started searching for the "exchangers", and the situation worsened.

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Despite the handover - the payment of "help in the amount of 10,000 rubles" – Russian money was not taken seriously by the Kherson people. In the markets, sellers preferred hryvnias. "What are we going to do with your pieces of paper?" – they said. However, Ukrainian patriots from the partisan organization "Yellow Ribbon" figured out what to do with them. Words and phrases began to be written on the rubles, reminding Russians that they are here not for long, and reminding the Ukrainians under occupation – that they must hold on and believe in our Armed Forces. Ordinary people appreciated the idea, and they joined in.

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Rubles signed by partisans can be distinguished from rubles signed by regular Kherson residents. Usually, partisan writings are more complex and inventive, for example, they advice Russians to save this money for reparations to Ukraine. The inscriptions made by ordinary people are more emotional: "I hate Russia! I hate the occupation!!! Kherson Region is Ukraine!" – with a mandatory exclamation mark.

 

In conditions where any Ukrainian information was prohibited, Russian rubles became an almost ideal channel of communication and support of pro-Ukrainian sentiments. You hold such a bill in your hands – and it immediately becomes more fun. You give away the bill – and thereby convey the message to our people: "Everything will be Ukraine!".

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