Apple Stops Online Sales in Russia Over Ruble Fluctuations - Bloomberg

Falling petroleum prices and international sanctions are being blamed for the looming crash of Russia's currency. The ruble lost 18% over the last two days

In a surprise move today, the Russian central bank raised interest rates by the most in 16 years, taking its benchmark to 17 percent. That failed to halt the rout in the ruble, which has plummeted to about 70 rubles a dollar from 34 as oil prices dived by almost half to below $60 a barrel. Russia relies on the energy industry for as much as a quarter of economic output, Moody’s Investors Service said in a Dec. 9 report.