The MosBirch index collapsed by 7.4% in trading on Monday, February 21, to the level of 3143 points. It traded below 3,200 points for the first time since January 24.

The RTS index fell 8.4% to 1,273.9 points. The index fell below 1200 points for the first time since January 25.

Meanwhile, the dollar exchange rate rose by 1.15% to 78.19 rubles. The euro rate rose by 1.7% to 89.03 rubles.

Russian indices and currency are declining amid reports from the authorities of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DNR) that a Ukrainian sabotage group has broken into its territory. The market was also negatively affected by a statement by the chief of the general staff of the Belarusian Armed Forces, Viktor Gulevich, that units of the Russian Armed Forces will return to their permanent deployment points only when there is an “objective need” to do so, RBC reported.