Ukraine's central bank has set limits on dollar sales to companies and individuals and ordered commercial banks to end early deposit withdrawals to preserve stability after a week-long political crisis.
It also set limits on withdrawals from cash machines. The bank said in a statement the measures, taken after days of political crisis following last week's disputed presidential election, will be in place until December 31.
"Considering the current economic situation and with an aim to secure stability of the banking system and defend depositors, the central bank adopted a number of steps," said the statement, released before a news conference due later by acting central bank chairman Arseniy Yatsenyuk.
Ukraine has been plunged into turmoil after a presidential election on November 21.
Tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets in the capital Kiev and across the country to protest against the declaration that Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich won the election.
Opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko is demanding the result be overturned, saying he would have been the victor but for mass fraud in the poll.
The central bank said it would limit cash dollar sales to $1,000 a day and non-cash dollar sales to $50,000. Withdrawals from cash machines are limited to 1,500 hryvnias ($282) a day.
Companies would be allowed to withdaw 80,000 hryvnias a month on top of wages and some other operational costs.
The central bank also reiterated its pledge to help commercial banks with stabilisation loans if they suffer from a liquidity crunch.
Bankers said a run on deposits had started weeks before the poll as Ukrainians have little faith in the country's undercapitalised and overcrowded banking system.
In the capital Kiev, people are experiencing difficulties when they try to withdraw money from cash machines while in the eastern regions people are standing in lines to take out cash.
Bankers also said individuals rushed to banks in eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions to withdraw deposits after local authorities started debates on a local referendum to form a separate republic.