The last two months have seen a significant increase in demand for UnionPay payment cards. Against the background of blocking alternatives and even local Mir cards, the Russians hastened to register them as the last hope for normal interaction with Western services. But even here, even the disadvantaged occupiers faced problems, whose exit from the market proved to be a greater disaster than the persecution of their armies against the Ukrainian people: many foreign stores and banks stopped payments from UnionPay cards issued in Russia. . According to the source, the system itself could influence this by requiring local buyers to fulfill their obligations. But the Chinese company prefers not to interfere.

what is known

• According to Kommersant propagandists, foreign online stores decided not to personally serve the Russians, although the sanctions did not provide for this.
• According to sources, they instruct acquiring banks not to pay with Russian cards, regardless of the payment system.
• Foreign banks do not want to know if the Russian bank is under sanctions, so they block the whole country.
• According to the newspaper, the number of cards issued by the system in Russia today is about half a million. This is ten times more than at the beginning of March.
• In this case, a significant part of them includes paying for goods in virtual, that is, online stores.

Currently, UnionPay payment cards are the only cards accepted worldwide and have not stopped working due to the Russian attack on Ukraine. However, this type of card is not supported by all banks.