The National Bank of Ukraine has said threats from separatists on May 15 forced it to suspend business in Donetsk region and evacuate its local personnel.
“Today the management of the territorial branch received a demand
from representatives of the self-proclaimed so-called Donetsk People’s
Republic for issuing a considerable sum in cash. The separatists
threatened to ‘mop up’ the branch if that order was not fulfilled,” the
National Bank said in a statement.
“To save the lives and health of the bank personnel and clients, the
national Bank of Ukraine decided to evacuate the personnel of the
territorial branch and suspend its operations in Donetsk region,” the
statement reads.
The statement cited National Bank Chairman Volodymyr Krotiuk as
saying the separatists’ conduct made it impossible for the regions’
banking system to function, and that this might prevent the payment of
pensions, public sector salaries and wages to coalminers and others, and
threatened to undermine local industry and trade.
The National Bank asked law enforcement for urgent intervention, the statement said.
As reported, as a result of the seizure of the office of the NBU
branch in Crimea, the occupation authorities got hold of UAH 3.9 billion
in cash.
