Moody’s says Russia defaulted on debt

Moody's ratings agency has confirmed that Russia defaulted on foreign debt for the first time in a century after bond holders did not receive $100 million in interest payments.

The missed payments follow a series of unprecedented Western sanctions that have increasingly isolated Russia following its invasion of Ukraine.

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Russia lost the last avenue to service its foreign-currency loans after the United States removed an exemption last month that allowed US investors to receive Moscow's payments.

“On 27 June, holders of Russia's sovereign debt had not received coupon payments on two eurobonds worth $100 million by the time the 30-calendar-day grace period expired, which we consider an event of default under our definition,” Moody's said.

“Further defaults on future coupon payments are likely,” the agency said in a statement late Monday.

Moscow said Monday there were “no grounds to call this situation a default” as the payments did not reach creditors due to the “the actions of third parties”.

The country last defaulted on its foreign debt in 1918, when Bolshevik revolution leader Vladimir Lenin refused to recognize the massive debts of the deposed tsar's regime.

Read more:

World Bank’s chief economist sees more debt distress risks

Sanctions-hit Russia slides towards default as payment deadline expires

Russia to make foreign debt payments in rubles: Ministry