The Verkhovna Rada Considers a Bill to Rename the Kopeck to Shag
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine plans to adopt a bill by the end of 2025 that will give the coin “kopeck” its historical Ukrainian name – “shag.” The relevant document was registered on October 1.
This is reported by AgroReview
Features of the Bill and Its Consideration in Parliament
The initiative to return the historical name has been supported by deputies from all parliamentary factions. The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, Ruslan Stefanchuk, who is one of the authors of the bill, explained that a certain amount of time is needed for the quality processing and coordination of such decisions. Bill No. 14093 must go through consideration in the relevant committees, and its review in the session hall is expected soon, although the exact date for the vote has not yet been determined.
“The kopeck is a legacy of the Russian Empire and the USSR, while ‘shag’ is a traditional Ukrainian name that was used back in the times of the Hetmanate and the Ukrainian People’s Republic. It is mentioned in classic Ukrainian literature – in the works of Shevchenko, Lesya Ukrainka, Kotlyarevsky, and Panas Myrny,” said the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada.
Symbolic and Practical Significance of the Renaming
The Deputy Chair of the Parliament, Olena Kondratiuk, emphasized the high chances of the bill’s successful adoption, as it has united support from representatives of all factions. In addition to the main bill, a supplementary document No. 14094 has also been submitted to implement the changes.
Ruslan Stefanchuk emphasizes that the abandonment of the name “kopeck” has not only a technical but also a deep symbolic meaning, as “shag” is considered part of the national history and identity. Currently, the coin named “kopeck” is preserved only in Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus, so the name change is viewed as a restoration of historical justice and a confirmation of the uniqueness of Ukrainian currency.
Importantly, the implementation of the new name will not require additional expenditures from the state budget. For some time, both “kopecks” and “shags” will be in circulation simultaneously, and their ratio will remain unchanged – 1:1.
The Chairman of the National Bank, Andriy Pyshny, also confirmed support for the idea, emphasizing that it will contribute to the restoration of the historical continuity of the Ukrainian monetary system.