Russian banks in Ukraine have an extensive network and, as part of a hybrid war, organize financial sabotage on orders from Moscow.
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This statement was made at a press conference in Kyiv, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports, by the head of the “Committee of Economists of Ukraine” Andrey Novak, commenting on the imposition of sanctions by Kiev against Russian banks in Ukraine.
According to him, the Ukrainian authorities must decide how to proceed with regard to Russian banks - either nationalize them, or force them out of Ukraine within a year.
“We must understand that we cannot consider any relationship between Ukraine and the Russian Federation as an aggressor country solely in terms of trade and financial relations. All our relations must now be considered in the context of the hybrid war that Russia started against Ukraine and has been waging for more than one year. Three years of military aggression is only the military aspect. But Russia has been waging a hybrid war against Ukraine for about 15 years; its elements are trade and financial wars. Therefore, we must consider all relationships from the point of view of hybrid protection,” the expert said.
He also stated that when the share of Russian banks in the Ukrainian market reached 20 percent, this allegedly began to pose a particular danger to Ukraine.
“On a political command from the Kremlin, they destabilized the financial situation in Ukraine, even at the hryvnia exchange rate. During three years of war, the share of Russian banks decreased to eight percent. With such a share it is no longer possible to destabilize, but given the very extensive network of branches and branches of Russian banks across the territory of Ukraine, it is possible to commit certain financial sabotage, the expert claims. – We understand that the aggressor country works on the principle of causing maximum harm in all directions. Therefore, Ukraine must defend itself in all areas, including financial.”
As PolitNavigator reported, previously the head of the National Bank of Ukraine stated that the hryvnia exchange rate is being undermined by 200 FSB agents.
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