On June 12, the National Bank introduced two new 10-hryvnia coins into circulation — dedicated to Odesa and Mykolaiv regions. With them, the "We Are Strong. We Are Together" series has now covered ten regions out of 27.
An Ordinary Coin with an Extraordinary Reverse
The obverse of the new coins is identical to the standard ten-hryvnia coin — coat of arms, denomination, year. But instead of Ivan Mazepa on the reverse — a stylized map of Ukraine with the territory of a specific region highlighted. The coins are made from a zinc-based alloy with nickel plating and are full-fledged legal tender: banks are obligated to accept them at face value.
The circulation of each is 2 million pieces for free circulation. In parallel, the NBU releases rolls of 25 coins — for collectors and those who want to preserve a complete set of the series.
"Mykolaiv and Odesa regions are Ukraine's southern frontiers that have become symbols of resilience, strength of spirit and the struggle for freedom. These are reliable bulwarks that preserve the economic viability of our country and its connection with the world."
Andriy Pyshny, Head of the NBU
Chronology: From Crimea to Odesa
The NBU launched the series in December 2022 — the first coins were Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk regions: areas that were first caught in the epicenter of Russian aggression. Then — a gradual expansion of geography:
- December 2022: AR Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk
- February 2026: Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, Kherson — presented on Khortytsya on the fourth anniversary of the full-scale invasion
- May 2026: Sumy, Chernihiv
- June 2026: Odesa, Mykolaiv
The logic of releases is neither alphabetical nor administrative. The NBU moves from the most affected regions to those that withstood the impact in other directions.
What's Left Off Screen
27 regions, 10 coins released — still ahead are 17 regions and cities with special status. The NBU has not announced a schedule for completing the series. The issue is not technical: how will the regulator determine the sequence for regions not on the front lines but bearing significant economic and humanitarian burden — Dnipropetrovsk, Lviv, Kyiv?
If the pace remains roughly the same — 2–3 coins per quarter — the complete map will not appear before 2028. Provided that circumstances do not force an acceleration or reconsideration of the series' logic.
