MOSCOW, April 5. /TASS/. Russia’s international reserves amounted to $590.374 bln as of April 1, 2024, up by 1.33% (or by $7.738 bln) compared with the level as of early February, according to files released by the Central Bank on Friday.

In March, currency reserves decreased by 1.34% to $424.445 bln. Monetary gold gained 8.86% in reserves over the month and amounted to $166.039 bln.

Russia’s international reserves are highly liquid foreign assets available with the Bank of Russia and the Russian government. They comprise foreign currency, Special Drawing Rights (SDRs), a reserve position in the International Monetary Fund and monetary gold.

Following the start of Moscow’s special military operation in Ukraine Western countries slapped sanctions against the Bank of Russia. Apart from freezing Russia’s gold and foreign currency reserves, all transactions related to management of the regulator’s reserves and assets, as well as transactions with any legal entity, organization or body acting on behalf or at the direction of the Central Bank, were prohibited.