Russia's No. 2 lender VTB (VTBR.MM) will hike mortgage rates by from 28 Feb due to harsh new Western sanctions forcing the bank to reconsider its mortgage lending parameters. The effective rate will now be 15.3%. "Due to the sharp rise in interest rates on the market we are also temporarily suspending the processing of refinancing" operations, VTB said in a statement.

Value of the Ruble to the US Dollar on 28 Feb, a decline of 41%. Since Jan. 1, 2022, the ruble has depreciated by as much as 47.33% against the USD. Conflict in Eastern Europe is fueling the currency's destruction.

($150 million) Combined value of financial and military support Sweden had committed to extend to Ukraine. Sweden will send military aid to Ukraine including 5,000 anti-tank weapons, 5,000 helmets, 5,000 body shields and 135,000 field rations. It also includes 500 million SEK ($52.19 million) to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

At 00:00 hours, Sweden will close its airspace to all Russian air traffic.

Number of special operations forces veterans that are staging in Poland and preparing to cross into Ukraine, where they plan to take up President Volodymyr Zelensky on his offer to “join the defense of Ukraine, Europe, and the world,” according to a US Army veteran arranging their passage. The group, composed of six US citizens, three Brits, and a German, are NATO-trained and experienced in close combat and counterterrorism. They want to be among the first to officially join the new International Legion of the Territorial Defense of Ukraine that Zelensky announced Sunday, according to text messages reviewed by BuzzFeed News.

Kathy Hochul, Governor of New York State, signs an executive order directing state agencies to stop doing business with Russian entities.

FedEx and UPS have suspended shipments into Russia amid the country's invasion of Ukraine. The U.S.-based shipping giants had earlier cut off shipments to and from Ukraine and were preparing contingency plans for their Russian operations. Now, both have temporarily stopped delivering shipments bound for Russia for safety reasons.

BP decides to exit its 20% stake in Russian oil giant Rosneft. Chief Executive Bernard Looney to resign from board of Rosneft with immediate effect. Helge Lund, BP chair, says the company has operated in Russia for over 30 years with "brilliant Russian colleagues" but says the invasion represents a fundamental change: "Russia's attack on Ukraine is an act of aggression which is having tragic consequences across the region."