Crimean Deputy Prime Minister Rustam Temirgaliev has told RIANovosti that the region will abandon Ukraine's Hyrvnia: *CRIMEA TO SWITCH TO RUSSIAN RUBLE APRIL 1: RIA NOVOSTI This is not a total surprise as Reuters reported the Crimean Deputy PM stating "we are ready to introduce a ruble zone," a week ago. For the last few years the UAH/RUB exchange rate has oscillated around 38 in an 'almost' peg anyway... The Ukrainian region of Crimea could adopt the Russian ruble as its currency and "nationalize" state property as part of plans to join the Russian Federation, a regional official was quoted as saying on Thursday. ... (full story)