[69934] Hryvnia at historic low: dollar surges to a record 44.23 against the Ukrainian currency

Historic high in the dollar exchange rate against the hryvnia

The Ukrainian economy is facing new pressures, as on May 21, 2026, media outlets updated that the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) set an official rate of 44.23 hryvnias to the dollar, according to a report by Times of Ukraine. This is a new historic high, which received widespread coverage in local media, including Реальна Війна and Україна Online, pointing out that the American currency continues to strengthen consistently.

While the dollar recorded a rise, data from ТСН.ua indicates that the euro remained relatively stable at a level of about 51.30 hryvnias. However, the reality on the ground is different from the official rates; UA Stream reports that in banks and private exchange points, the dollar rate is already fluctuating between 44.40 and 44.60 hryvnias, which reflects a significant gap between the official decisions of the central bank and actual market prices.

The economists of КИТ Group note that alongside currency fluctuations, other trends are being recorded in the local economy, such as an increase in the number of Ukrainian entrepreneurs opening businesses in Serbia, parallel to regulatory tightening by authorities in the Czech Republic towards Ukrainian refugees. The economic situation, characterized by a continuous devaluation of the national currency, continues to be a focus of concern among the public and economic commentators in Ukraine.