New series U.S. dollar banknotes have virtually disappeared from Russian banks and currency exchanges, Russian pro-Kremlin Telegram channel Shot reported on May 13, citing employees at local exchange offices.

"We have nowhere to get them. We sell what people bring in," said a woman in a video released by Shot, filmed in a way that concealed her face.

The currency worker also voiced concerns that after the summer vacation season, the new-format U.S. dollars will become even scarcer.

"Everyone's taking them abroad, and soon, I feel like, by the end of the summer, there won't be any left in Russia. They're taken out of the country, and no one brings them back," she said, reportedly speaking from an exchange office in Moscow.

According to Shot, Rosselkhozbank's branch on Tverskaya-Yamskaya Street told the channel they "never have" new-design dollars, and Forabank on Gruzinsky Val said they're "rare," and currently unavailable.

"At Finam's cash desk on Nastasyinsky Lane, they say they haven't seen any new dollars in two years. At Transstroybank's exchange office, a small number of new notes are available, but you'll have to pay a 'note selection fee': over 200 rubles extra for every 100 dollars," the report stated.

Currency exchange staff explained that old-style U.S. bills are often not accepted abroad, prompting Russian tourists to take new-format bills with them when traveling, Shot added.

New-design U.S. dollars are defined as bills introduced after the redesign of the $100 note in 2013. Bills issued before that are considered "old."

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New-design U.S. dollars vanish from Russian banks and exchanges(https://english.nv.ua/business/new-design-u-s-dollar-bills-vanish-from-russian-banks-and-exchanges-50513585.html)