Reports indicate that Syrian banknotes have been delivered from Russia to Damascus.

According to Reuters, this concerns "hundreds of billions." Sources from "Al-Hadas" estimate the amount at 300 billion Syrian pounds (approximately 23 million dollars).

Following the rise to power of the Islamist group "Hayat Tahrir al-Sham," which is recognized as a terrorist organization in the U.S., the European Union, and other countries, Russian enterprises have been prohibited from printing banknotes. Meanwhile, due to sanctions, Syria is unable to order printing from the West.

Syria is facing a severe currency shortage. The Central Bank's reserves are estimated at 200 million dollars. In 2010, a year before the war began, the International Monetary Fund assessed Syria's reserves at 18.5 billion dollars. People are wary of keeping their money in banks, fearing they won't be able to retrieve it, clarifies the Financial Times.

The popular 2000-pound banknote, which has not yet been withdrawn from circulation, features the ousted Bashar al-Assad, who fled to Russia.

• Recently, the first official phone talks took place between Russian President Vladimir Putin and the head of Syria's transitional period, Ahmad al-Sharaa. Putin confirmed Russia's readiness to assist in improving the socio-economic situation in Syria and to provide humanitarian aid to the country's residents.
• At the end of January, a delegation from the Russian Foreign Ministry visited Syria. The new Syrian authorities called on Russia to acknowledge past mistakes, pay compensation, and engage in the country's reconstruction. According to unconfirmed reports, al-Sharaa is demanding Russia hand over Assad to the new Syrian authorities.

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