News in Brief

Counterfeits Fall in Albania and Ukraine

Counterfeit banknote levels fell to a historic low of 0.64ppm in Albania last year, when only 107 counterfeits were seized in circulation. The largest share of counterfeit banknotes is made up of the 5,000 lekë denomination, followed by the 2,000 lekë and 1,000 lekë denominations.

According to the Bank of Albania, the counterfeits identified during 2025 are simple reproductions, made with commercial digital equipment, with artisanal interventions to imitate the visible security elements. The security elements readable by the authentication devices do not result in being imitated in any case, which confirms the effectiveness of the protective technologies used.

In Ukraine, meanwhile, counterfeits fell threefold in 2025 compared to 2024, according to the National Bank of Ukraine. The ratio was c. 1.7 ppm, the lowest figure since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. In 2024, it stood at approximately 5.1 ppm.