As of 10:16 a.m. Moscow time (07:16 GMT), US dollar was up 1.43 percent to 66.49 rubles, while euro grew 1.22 percent to 77.05 rubles, earlier touching more than two-year highs at 66.65 rubles and 77.27 rubles, respectively.
On Wednesday, the US administration announced new sanctions against Russia over the poisoning of former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury.
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The sanctions were triggered by London's accusation that Moscow was "highly likely" involved in the poisoning. Russia has denied the allegations, stressing that British authorities have never presented any evidence on the matter. Both Skripals later recovered and were moved to an undisclosed location by the UK.
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Another anti-Russia sanctions bill was proposed by a group of US senators led by Lindsey Graham in early August, which target dollar-denominated transactions by Russian banks and US nationals' operations with Russia's sovereign debt.