Hello! This week we look at the effect of sanctions on Russia as the war in Ukraine enters its fifth month. In the West, there are concerns about the effectiveness of sanctions: they have not prevented Moscow from raking in record foreign currency earnings from the sale of energy resources and they threaten the West, especially Europe, with a whole range of unpleasant political and economic consequences. What have Western sanctions achieved?

The war in Ukraine has been going on for four months, and, despite the unprecedented strict sanctions, the prerequisites for its soon completion are not traced. In Western countries, there are more and more doubts that the sanctions are working - because so far they do not prevent Moscow from earned a record revenue from the sale of energy resources. But sanctions threaten the West itself, primarily in Europe, unpleasant political and economic consequences.

Russia is "only a few hours" away from defaulting on its external debt, a dramatic moment in the financial battle that the US and several other countries have unleashed against the Kremlin, writes Bloomberg. A month ago, the United States deprived Russia of the ability to service external debt in the loan currency, non-resident holders did not receive a coupon on May 27, and the grace period expires tomorrow, June 27. We are talking about interest payments on bonds for about $100 million.

For the first time, the Russian army may be allowed to conclude contracts with school graduates. Now, this requires at least graduating from a technical school, as well as completing three months of military service. accepting school graduates for contract service Andrey Kartapolov, chairman of the State Duma Committee on Defense , suggested .

The leaders of the G7 countries are holding "very constructive" talks to limit the price of Russian oil, Reuters writes , citing a source in the German government. Such a measure should help reduce the Kremlin's oil revenues. The United States, Canada and the United Kingdom have already imposed an embargo, while in the EU it will come into force by the end of 2022.

The G7 countries will soon announce a ban on the import of Russian gold. The measure applies to new gold mining and will not affect the already acquired. the plans of the G7 countries to impose a ban on the import of Russian gold Joe Biden announced . The US President noted that as a result, Russia will lose tens of billions of dollars in income. The website of the British government says that the UK, Canada, the US and Japan refuse to import gold mined after the ban, including processed.

The topic of release is how Avito is sold The main contender for the purchase of Avito ads service, one of the most profitable IT companies in Russia, is considered VK. But, as The Bell found out, the owner of Avito, the Dutch Prosus, is trying with all his might to find another, more distant buyer from the state. There are interests, but a little chance of selling someone else.