The National Bank of Ukraine has announced a package of measures easing foreign exchange restrictions from 25 April 2026, targeting defence-sector payments, the recruitment of non-resident specialists into Ukrainian companies and banks, and support for military personnel and Ukrainians living abroad. The changes also streamline certain requirements for insurers involved in reinsurance with non-resident reinsurers. For defence enterprises, banks processing requests to buy foreign currency may disregard existing FX balances where funds were received from foreign states or authorised agencies to finance contracts for military and dual-use goods for Ukraine’s security and defence forces, or where FX is purchased using budget funds to fulfil a state contract for military goods for those end recipients. Non-resident servicepersons will be able to purchase and transfer FX abroad without restrictions up to the amount of their allowances for funds credited to their accounts on or after 1 May 2026, while the existing cap of up to the equivalent of UAH 400,000 per calendar month continues to apply to funds credited before that date; banks may also credit hryvnia to current accounts of all non-resident servicepersons from resident legal persons and resident and non-resident individuals regardless of citizenship. The NBU also broadened acceptable identification documents for opening serviceperson accounts and enabled FX purchases and transfers linked to payments to non-resident members of supervisory boards, management boards, or executive bodies, alongside related risk-based monitoring by banks. Separately, the NBU created conditions for the government-established Agency of National Unity LLC to make international transfers using budget funds to support Ukrainians abroad and facilitate their return, and removed the requirement for insurers to submit monthly solvency compliance calculations to remain eligible for reinsurance transactions with non-resident reinsurers. The measures are set out in an NBU resolution amending the wartime FX restrictions framework and take effect on 25 April 2026.
National Bank of Ukraine 2026-04-24
National Bank of Ukraine eases FX restrictions for defence enterprises, non-resident servicepersons and foreign specialists
The National Bank of Ukraine has adopted measures easing wartime foreign exchange restrictions from 25 April 2026, focusing on defence-sector payments, non-resident specialists, military personnel and Ukrainians abroad, and certain insurance operations. Changes include relaxed FX purchase rules for defence enterprises, expanded FX transfer rights and account-opening documentation for non-resident servicepersons and board members, and new conditions for the Agency of National Unity LLC to make international transfers using budget funds. The NBU also removed the requirement for insurers to submit monthly solvency calculations to remain eligible for reinsurance transactions with non-resident reinsurers.