MOSCOW, February 28. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has banned Russian residents from crediting accounts in banks outside the country with currency, according to a decree by the head of the state published on the Kremlin’s website on Monday.

"To ban starting March 1, 2022, crediting accounts in banks located outside the Russian Federation and other financial market organizations with currency by residents," the document said. Transfer of funds without opening a bank account using electronic means of payment provided by foreign suppliers of payments services will also be banned, according to the decree.

Moreover, Russian residents have been banned from extending foreign loans in currency starting March 1. "To ban foreign currency transactions related to providing foreign currency by residents to non-residents under loan agreements," the document said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on February 24 that in response to a request by the heads of the Donbass republics he had made a decision to carry out a special military operation. The Russian leader stressed that Moscow had no plans of occupying Ukrainian territories. Western countries responded to the actions of the Russian authorities by slapping sanctions against physical and legal entities.