Rouble tumbles past 62 vs dollar as Vladimir Putin orders partial mobilisation

The Russian rouble tumbled past 62 against the dollar on Wednesday for the first time in nearly two months as President Vladimir Putin ordered Russia’s first mobilisation since World War Two.

Putin said he had signed a decree on partial mobilisation, significantly escalating the conflict in Ukraine, and warned the West that if it continued what he called its “nuclear blackmail”, Moscow would respond with the might of all its vast arsenal.

At 0643 GMT, the rouble was 2.3% weaker at 61.97 to the dollar, having dipped as far as 62.6125, its weakest point since Aug. 1.

It had lost 1.5% to trade at 61.50 to the euro .