17 Oct 2026
Russia disconnected from SWIFT
Western countries have agreed to disconnect Russia from the interbank system for transferring information and payments SWIFT. At the first stage, only banks under new Western sanctions will be disconnected from the system, including Sberbank, VTB, Gazprombank and Otkritie.
According to German government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit, the UK, Germany, Italy, Canada, the United States and France will carry out the shutdown. He specified that, "if necessary," other Russian banks will also be denied access to SWIFT.
At the same time, the same countries limit "the ability of the Russian Central Bank to support the ruble exchange rate" by freezing its foreign assets and denying access to international financial transactions.
Sanctions will also be imposed against everyone who supports the special military operation in Donbas. "In particular, it will put an end to the possibility of wealthy Russians to obtain for themselves and their relatives the so-called golden passport and European citizenship", a German government spokesman explained.
The West is creating a special group that will control the freezing of assets of sanctioned companies and individuals.
Washington’s statement on SWIFT sanctions was issued soon. "We are determined to continue forcing Russia to bear the costs that will lead to further isolation of Russia from the international financial system and our economies. We commit ourselves to ensuring the exclusion of individual Russian banks from the SWIFT messaging system"б the document says.
Latest news
Latest newsBulgaria Asks NATO to Strengthen Its Defences Amid Black Sea Threats: Sofia Fears Growing Risks to Maritime Shipping
16.Oct.2026
Black Sea Shipping Risks Threaten Bulgaria’s 5 Million Tonnes of Wheat Exports
15.Oct.2026
Georgia’s Foreign Funding and Political Ban Laws Draw Criticism from the Venice Commission
15.Oct.2026
Kazakhstan Promotes a Caspian Green Energy Corridor: Astana Seeks New Routes to the European Market
14.Oct.2026
Inflation in Romania Accelerates to 6.61%: Rising Prices Increase Pressure on Households and the Economy
13.Oct.2026
Can Europe Protect the International Criminal Court from Trump’s Sanctions?
13.Oct.2026
Georgia’s Constitutional Court Continues Case on Banning Opposition Parties: Political Pluralism at Stake
12.Oct.2026
Azerbaijan and Iran Step Up Security Contacts Amid Hijab Protests
12.Oct.2026
Personnel Shortages Complicate Ukrainian Forces’ Rotation: Ukraine Faces Long-Term Challenges on the Front Line
11.Oct.2026
Trump Eases Sanctions on Russian Fuel After Talks with Putin: Kyiv Fears Boost to Moscow’s War Revenues
10.Oct.2026
Putin Seeks to Strengthen Russia’s Influence in the Post-Soviet Space Through the CIS
10.Oct.2026
Russia and the South Caucasus: External Pressure, Political Competition and a Crisis of Trust
10.Oct.2026
Peaceful Settlement Between Armenia and Azerbaijan: Moving from Declarations to Implementation
10.Oct.2026
Moldova Ready to Accept as Many Ukrainians as Necessary if Situation Worsens This Winter
09.Oct.2026
Turkmenistan Turns Avaza into a Regional Diplomatic Hub as Caspian, Central Asian and CIS Agendas Converge
08.Oct.2026