Vladimir Putin summoned almost 40 Russian businessmen and heads of state companies to the Kremlin on Thursday. He called the entry of Russian troops into Ukraine a “forced measure” and threatened businesses with responsibility for refusing to work with Russian companies that fell under sanctions. Almost 40 businessmen and heads of private and state companies were invited to Vladimir Putin's meeting with Russian business.

US President Joe Biden issued a statement on US sanctions against Russia following the G7 meeting. They boil down to the following points: Sanctions against banks . VTB, Otkritie, Sovcombank and Novikombank came under full blocking sanctions with the freezing of assets in the United States and a ban on working with them for all American (and European - under the threat of secondary sanctions) organizations.

The UK freezes the assets of VTB Bank and bans Aeroflot flights. This was stated by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, broadcast by the BBC and The Guardian . The assets of all major Russian banks will be frozen - they will be excluded from the UK financial system, Johnson said. Blocking sanctions are being imposed against Russia's second-largest bank, VTB - all of its assets in Britain will be frozen "completely and immediately." Blocking sanctions are also being introduced against Aeroflot.

More than half of Russians - 52% - reported that they have a bad attitude towards Ukraine, 35% - which is good, according to the results of a survey by the Levada Center (recognized as a foreign agent). In November last year, 45% and 43%, respectively, gave such answers. The survey was conducted shortly before the start of the Russian military operation in Ukraine, on February 17-21, 2021. The study involved 1618 people.

Ukraine proposes to return to the path of peace, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said at a briefing. “Ukraine did not choose the path of war. Ukraine offers to return to the path of peace,” he said. Zelensky also addressed Russian citizens. “If you hear us, if you understand us, if you understand that you are attacking an independent country, please go out to the squares, address the president. We, Ukrainians, are on our own land,” he stressed.

Some bank branches and ATMs in Moscow visited by The Bell reporters are running out of dollars and euros. Intra-bank exchange rates on average jumped to 86-86.5 rubles per dollar and 96-97 rubles per euro. We asked the banks how things are with the currency, and the analysts and financial advisers - how to most rationally behave with money now.

Former European officials have begun to leave the boards of directors of Russian companies because of the military operation in Ukraine. Matteo Renzi, the former prime minister of Italy, has stepped down from the board of directors of the car-sharing service Delimobil, the Financial Times writes , citing sources. According to them, Renzi contacted the board of directors by email to announce his decision to leave immediately. Renzi declined to comment on this information.

Several bank branches and ATMs in Moscow visited by The Bell reporters are running out of dollars and euros. Intra-bank exchange rates on average jumped to 86-86.5 rubles per dollar and 96-97 rubles per euro. The Tinkoff operator told The Bell correspondent that there is an increased demand from the bank's customers, so not all ATMs can withdraw cash - both in rubles and in foreign currency.

Many bank branches and ATMs in Moscow are running out of dollars and euros. Intra-bank exchange rates on average jumped to 86-86.5 rubles per dollar and 96-97 rubles per euro. Tinkoff Bank noted that they replenish all ATMs in an enhanced mode, and in the Tinkoff application, conversion operations and currency transfers work normally.

Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov commented on the Russian military operation in Ukraine and explained what “demilitarization” and “denazification” of this country means. Speaking about the goal of "denazification", he noted that "ideally, Ukraine should be liberated, cleansed of Nazis, pro-Nazi people and ideology" ( quoted by RIA Novosti). Peskov did not explain whether the Kremlin considers the President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky to be “pro-Nazi”.

Ukraine has broken off diplomatic relations with Russia, said on his Instagram. President Volodymyr Zelensky “Ukraine is defending itself and will not give up its freedom. For us, independence and the right to live on our own land is the highest value,” he stressed.

Business representatives were summoned to a meeting at the Kremlin amid the military operation in Ukraine, two sources at major Russian companies told The Bell. According to one of them, the meeting will take place today, February 24, in a few hours. The widest range of businesses was invited to it, managers are coming, the source says.

The Russian market continues to collapse against the background of the Russian military operation in Ukraine. The Moscow Exchange Index fell by more than 45% during trading. At the minimum, the Moscow Exchange index fell to 1681.55 points (a drop of 45.5% from the previous close). As of 12:15 p.m., the fall is 37.4%. The RTS index falls by 41.44% to 718.35 points. At the low, it fell by more than half - by 50.2% - to 610.3 points.

Vladimir Putin began a military operation in Ukraine Vladimir Putin on the night of February 24 announced the beginning of a military operation in Ukraine, calling it the goal of “demilitarization and denazification” of the country. Immediately after this, Russian troops struck the Ukrainian military infrastructure. Vladimir Zelensky declared martial law in the country.

The Moscow Exchange index after the opening fell by almost 29% against the background of the Russian military operation in Ukraine, the RTS index - by 35%. As of 10:37 Moscow time, the drop in the Moscow exchange index was 28.8% (to 2196 points), the RTS index - 35.11% (to 795.99 points). Sberbank shares fell by 28%, Gazprom - by 36.75%, Lukoil - by 36%, Magnit - by 34.4%, Yandex - by 28.14%. The ruble on the Moscow Exchange also experienced the strongest fall.