From last week, international rating agencies have reduced the sovereign rating of Russia to the pre -ending level, and Fitch has already stated that the default is inevitable. The word “default” itself causes an instant association among Russians since August 1998 - the collapse of the ruble, the collapse of the banking system and the loss of savings.

Sanctions, the collapse of the ruble, and the ensuing currency controls make it difficult or impossible for Russian citizens to access many financial services. We have compiled a complete list of restrictions. Bank cards On March 10, Visa and Mastercard payment systems left Russia. Their cards now only work within the country. Cross-border transactions with them are not available, that is, it is impossible to pay for purchases on foreign sites with such cards.

US President Joe Biden signed a decree on new sanctions against Russia. The main thing in it is a complete ban on the supply of dollar bills to Russia. “It is prohibited to export, re-export, sell or supply directly or indirectly from the United States or by a person from the United States, wherever located, banknotes denominated in US dollars to the government of the Russian Federation or to any person located in the Russian Federation,” the document says.

The mass outcome of Western companies from the Russian market due to the “military special operation” in Ukraine has turned into a threat to local media: along with the closure of offices, shops, restaurants and the suspension of goods, Western corporations lead advertising budgets from the country-a key source of revenues for TV channels, radio stations, printed press and many Internet publications.

The unprecedented sanctions, which Russia is subjected to as a result of a “special military operation” in Ukraine, actually put the country in the conditions of the economic blockade.

The Prosecutor General's Office filed an application with the court to recognize the company Meta, which owns the social networks Facebook and Instagram, as well as the WhatsApp messenger, as an extremist organization. And the Investigative Committee opened a criminal case on incitement to murder against Russians by Meta employees.

Russians trying to withdraw funds abroad amid tight currency restrictions have turned to cryptocurrencies. But the field of possibilities is narrowing here as well, writes . Kommersant In recent weeks, participants have seen an increase in transactions with cryptocurrencies in Russia by three to five times, Roman Nekrasov, co-founder of the ENCRY Foundation blockchain service, told the publication. And these are largely not bitcoins, but dollar-pegged USDT stablecoins, including Tether.

The stock exchanges in London and New York last week stopped tenders of receipts (ADR/GDR) for shares of Russian companies. What does this mean and what can be the consequences for their holders - we understand with Mikhail Ganelin, the senior analyst of the Aton investment group.

US President Joe Biden will call on Friday, March 11, for the termination of "permanent normal trade relations" with Russia, Bloomberg reports , citing sources familiar with the situation. "Permanent Normal Trade Relations" in the US (PNTR) is the same as the "most favored nation" that applies in other countries.