Last March, Russian banks significantly increased the import of foreign currencies, according to the Bank of Russia.
Some $5 bln and EUR 1 bln was imported in March. The amount of imported US dollars was 860% higher than in February 2020.
This new record of the past six years only beats the amount of US dollars imported between March and December 2014, RBC reports. The import of euros in March increased three times compared to February.
In April, the Bank of Russia spent $222 mio to support the Russian ruble. Sberbank President Herman Gref recommended that Russians keep their savings in several currencies, including Swiss francs.