Skripal case: US sanctions over Novichok hit Russian rouble
The Russian rouble has slumped to its lowest level since November 2016, hours after the US announced new sanctions because of the poisoning of an ex-Russian spy and his daughter in the UK. The rouble-dollar rate reached 66.7 on the Moscow stock exchange. On Tuesday the rouble rate had been 63.4. Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were poisoned with the Russian nerve agent Novichok in Salisbury in March, though they have now recovered. Russia denies any role in the attack. The share values of major Russian firms, including Aeroflot, Rusal and Sberbank, also fell several percentage points in Moscow on Thursday. The euro also gained against the rouble, which slumped to a rate of 76.8.
US Skripal sanctions hit Russian rouble