Ukash vouchers, which are available from 300,000 global physical issuing points in 17 countries, provide e-commerce solutions by allowing customers to shop, play and pay online using cash. Ukash will be available via numerous PrivatBank channels in the Ukraine including over the counter in 3,500 bank branches and online using the Privat24 internet and mobile banking service.

The vouchers will also be available from nearly 6,800 ATMs and approximately 1,800 self-service kiosks located in convenient public areas, enabling consumers to purchase Ukash outside of banking hours.

Founded in 1992, PrivatBank has operations in Russia, Georgia, Latvia, Portugal and Cyprus, and is the largest commercial bank in the Ukraine with 23% of the country's 46m population employing its services. The Ukraine's extensive expatriate workforce will also be able to benefit from the ability to use Ukash to spend online at both local and international websites.

Mark Chirnside, chief executive officer, Ukash said: "We are pleased to announce that Ukash is now available in the Ukraine, in association with the country's biggest commercial bank, PrivatBank. Our aim is to achieve a more socially inclusive approach to online shopping by helping the unbanked, as well as alleviating the fear of online fraud felt by many. We are happy to announce that customers in the Ukraine can now shop online safely using cash, and we feel sure that our introduction there will be as successful as our other recent endeavours."

The alternative payment vouchers will also soon be available from in excess of 55,000 shops in the Ukraine via PrivatBank's network of point of sale card processing terminals, and Smart Voucher is already working alongside PrivatBank and Skype to facilitate the SkypeCredit program in the Ukraine.

Future plans for Ukash, which can also be obtained online in 12 countries with more to come soon, include continuing its physical expansion into other countries in this region - starting with Russia.