MOSCOW, February 27. /TASS/. The number of counterfeit notes and coins detected in the Russian banking system plummeted by almost twofold last year in annual terms to about 12,400, the Bank of Russia said.

"In 2023, the number of fake Russian banknotes and coins declined by almost a factor of two and totaled 12,400 pieces. There were just two fake notes (four in 2022) per one million notes in circulation," the regulator said.

The 10-ruble bill was the least counterfeited denomination last year. The largest number of counterfeit notes was found in the Central Federal District and the smallest in the Far Eastern Federal District.

At the same time, about 1,400 fake foreign banknotes were found in 2023, 373 less than in 2022, the press service of the Central Bank said. Counterfeit US dollars made up the majority.