NBU issues commemorative 10-hryvnia coin honoring those who died in captivity
On July 28, 2026, the National Bank of Ukraine put into circulation a new circulating commemorative 10-hryvnia coin, “In Memory of Those Executed, Tortured or Killed in Captivity.” The issue honors Ukrainian service members and civilians who died in captivity as a result of Russia’s aggression.
The National Bank of Ukraine has issued a new circulating commemorative 10-hryvnia coin — “In Memory of Those Executed, Tortured or Killed in Captivity”. The coin entered circulation on July 28, 2026, for the Day of Remembrance of Ukraine’s Defenders, volunteer fighters and civilians who were executed, tortured or died in captivity.
The issue is intended to preserve the memory of Ukrainian service members and civilians whose lives were taken in Russian captivity. The NBU frames the coin as a reminder of crimes against the Ukrainian people and of memory that should remain present not only in documents and memorials, but also in everyday circulation.
That circulation format matters. Unlike silver or souvenir issues, a circulating commemorative coin can move through wallets, shops, bank counters and personal collections. The memorial message is therefore not limited to a display case: it becomes part of the everyday life of the hryvnia.
The NBU links the issue to the memory of those executed, tortured or killed in captivity as a result of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. In that sense, the coin is both a payment instrument and a small memorial object designed for mass circulation.
Why a circulating coin
The 10-hryvnia circulating commemorative format makes the issue accessible to a much wider audience than precious-metal collector coins. Some pieces will go directly into collections, but a large part of the mintage is intended to pass through banks, cash desks and ordinary payments.
For Ukrainian wartime numismatics, such issues have become a distinct line: they record events, symbols and painful themes of the present in the form of mass coinage. This new 10-hryvnia coin continues that line, but focuses on remembrance of people who died in captivity.
Design symbolism
The obverse repeats the design of the regular 10-hryvnia circulating coin of the 2018 type, with the denomination, year of issue and the State Emblem of Ukraine placed within an Old Rus-style ornament.
The reverse carries the main memorial message. It shows a chain with a broken link, symbolizing liberation from shackles. The chain fragments rise upward and turn into bird silhouettes — an image of unbroken spirit, heroism and the transition into eternity of those who gave their lives for Ukraine.
The broken chain works on several levels at once. It is a direct image of captivity, a sign of liberation and a reminder of human dignity that cannot be reduced to physical imprisonment. The bird silhouettes soften the composition visually, but keep its tragic meaning: the reverse speaks about death, memory and hope at the same time.
Coin specifications
The coin has a denomination of 10 hryvnias and is made from a zinc-based alloy with nickel coating. Its diameter is 23.5 mm, weight is 6.4 g and thickness is 2.3 mm. The planned mintage is 2,000,000 pieces.
The reverse was designed by Mykola Kovalenko, while Volodymyr Demianenko designed the obverse and created the sculpture. Our catalog page already includes photos, specifications, authors and future market data for the issue: 10 hryvnias 2026 “In Memory of Those Executed, Tortured or Killed in Captivity”.
Technically, the issue belongs to the modern line of circulating commemorative 10-hryvnia coins: the same diameter, weight and base obverse of the 2018 type. Its collector identity is defined by the reverse and by the theme, so the full title is important when searching for or describing the coin.
Circulation status
This is not a souvenir issue, but legal tender in Ukraine. It must be accepted at its face value of 10 hryvnias for payments and account operations. The NBU will gradually supply the mintage to banks, cash-in-transit companies and cash-processing companies for further distribution to clients.
Such coins usually do not appear everywhere at once. First they move through bank and cash-handling channels, and later they start appearing in private listings, swaps and thematic collections. We will track market offers and price dynamics on the catalog page as the issue reaches collectors.
Source: National Bank of Ukraine.
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