In the Russian-administration of Kherson, the rouble is the future official currency.

The Russian rouble will be adopted in regions of Ukraine currently under Russian military control. Undermining Russia’s earlier assurances that it was not intending to occupy territories gained by its soldiers.

A Russian official announced on Thursday that Moscow will make the rouble the official currency in the Russian-controlled area of Kherson in southern Ukraine.

“We will switch to the rouble zone beginning May 1”; Russian state news agency RIA Novosti quoted civilian and military administrator Kirill Stremousov as saying.

He says that there will be a four-month grace period during which Ukraine’s currency, the hryvnia, will be utilised. The Ukrainian hryvnia will lose its value after a four-month transition phase.

“Then we will entirely transition to rouble settlements,” Stremousov said, according to RIA Novosti.

High-ranking Russian officials have yet to confirm Stremousov’s announcement.

Lyudmyla Denisova, Ukraine’s human rights ombudswoman, called the plan a “annexation” and accused Russian forces of “starving the residents of Kherson by denying humanitarian aid” to the city.

“The adoption of the Russian rouble in Kherson is an act of annexation and yet another grave breach of international law by Russia,” she stated.