The Verkhovna Rada supported changing the name of the circulation coin from “kopeck” to “shag”
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted in the first reading a bill that provides for renaming the smallest coin from “kopeck” to “shag”, in accordance with the proposal of the National Bank of Ukraine. The decision was supported by 264 people’s deputies during the plenary session of the parliament.
The bill, which was officially registered on October 1, 2025, is currently awaiting consideration in the second reading. Previously, on December 15, the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Finance, Tax and Customs Policy recommended that the parliament adopt the document as a basis and in its entirety.
The initiative to change the name of small coins arose back in September 2024, when the National Bank proposed replacing the term “kopeck” with “step”. A month later, NBU Chairman Andriy Pyshny sent the relevant draft law to Verkhovna Rada Chairman Ruslan Stefanchuk with a request to initiate its consideration in parliament.
During the preparation of the draft law, some state bodies expressed objections. In particular, the National Securities and Stock Market Commission did not support the norm on changing the name of circulation coins. At the same time, in April 2025, the head of the NBU reported that the transition from “kopecks” to “steps” would not require additional expenditures from the state budget, probably referring to the physical production of new coins.
The change in the name of the small coin is part of measures to modernize the monetary system and standardize the terminology that will be used in monetary circulation and financial documentation. The bill is awaiting the completion of the second reading procedure, after which the new name “step” may officially replace “kopeck” in state circulation.
