Ukraine plans to replace its kopek coins, a lingering symbol of Moscow’s former influence, with a new coin called the “shah,” Central Bank Governor Andriy Pyshnyi announced. The change is part of a broader effort to reclaim Ukrainian national identity, especially in the wake of Russia’s full-scale invasion.br br The hryvnia currency was introduced in 1996, but the kopek retained its Soviet-era name. The new coin’s name, “shah,” meaning “step,” has historical roots in Ukraine from the 16th and 17th centuries and was also used during the Ukrainian revolution of 1917-1921.