An official from a pro-Russian committee indicated that the southern Ukraine region will start using the Russian ruble currency, starting May first.
Kirill Strmosov indicated that the conversion to the Russian ruble will take about four months, during which it will be used with the Ukrainian currency.
Russia confirmed on Tuesday that it had taken full control of the strategically important Kherson region, which includes part of the land route between Crimea and the Russian-backed separatist regions in the east.
Local authorities in Ukraine say that Russia appointed a mayor of its own in the city of Kherson and took control of the local headquarters, making it the first major center controlled by the Russians since the invasion of Ukraine.