The BBC announced Friday that it was halting its journalists' work in Russia after lawmakers moved to impose harsh jail terms for publishing "fake news" about the army as part of efforts to muffle dissent over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

The BBC, which has a large bureau in Moscow and runs a Russian-language news website, reacted after lawmakers

“I barely slept for an hour and a half. I was sick to my stomach and can’t eat,” Maria, age 24, told The Moscow Times four days after Russia began its “special military operation” against Ukraine.

“I want to be civic-minded, but I'm a mess. I just want to fly away. When I’m away from Russia I can start writing to MPs and help change the rhetoric on

Russia is struggling to sell oil as buyers flee the stigma, logistical challenges and fears of further sanctions that come with dealing with Moscow in the wake of the Ukraine invasion.

Even without direct sanctions on its energy industry Russia will lose around 1 million barrels per day (bpd) in oil exports, according to analyst Jarand Rystad, head

Microsoft is halting new sales of its products and services in Russia, the tech giant announced Friday, in the latest fallout over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

Western governments, sporting organizations, and big companies have cut Russia off or dealt it punishing sanctions over the internationally condemned attack on its neighbor. 

The US-based