Leading Russian bank Sberbank announced Wednesday it is pulling out of European markets amid tightening Western sanctions over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

"In the current environment, Sberbank has decided to withdraw from the European market," the lender said in a statement carried by Russian news agencies.&nbsp;

The bank said its subsidiaries in Europe were facing an “abnormal outflow of funds and a threat to the safety of employees and branches,” according to Russian news agencies. They did not provide details of the threats.

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Authorities in Austria and Czech Republic had taken actions in recent days against Sberbank’s activities in Europe. They were targeted last week by tough US sanctions aimed at limiting their businesses internationally and over the weekend barred from the international SWIFT payment system.

The move was the latest consequence of Russia’s invasion last week, which has led to warfare across Ukraine and unprecedented Western sanctions aimed at isolating Russia’s economy.

With Moscow having failed in its aim to swiftly overthrow Ukraine's government after nearly a week, Western countries are worried that it is switching to new, far more violent tactics to blast its way into cities it had expected to easily take.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/which-assets-of-russian-president-vladimir-putin-can-be-seized-due-to-ukraine-invasion-458127">In pics-Ukraine invasion:These assets of Russian President Putin can be seized</a>

More than 836,000 people have fled Ukraine since the Russian invasion, the UN's refugee agency says, with the number rising rapidly.

European banking regulators said Tuesday that the European subsidiary of Russia's Sberbank would be wound up.

Sberbank's Austria-based European arm, Sberbank Europe AG, would be allowed to enter "normal insolvency proceedings", while branches in Croatia and Slovenia were sold to local banks, the European banking supervisory authority said.

On Monday, the European Central Bank had said that the European affiliate was "failing or likely to fail" after it "experienced significant deposit outflows as a result of the reputational impact of geopolitical tensions".

Sberbank Europe AG also has subsidiaries in Bosnia, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Serbia, which do not come under the jurisdiction of the European Central Bank.

(With inputs from agencies)

Leading Russian bank Sberbank announced Wednesday it is pulling out of European markets amid tightening Western sanctions over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. "In the current environment, Sberbank has decided to withdraw from the European market," the lender said in a statement carried by Russian news agencies.

Leading Russian bank Sberbank announced Wednesday it is pulling out of European markets amid tightening Western sanctions over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. "In the current environment, Sberbank has decided to withdraw from the European market," the lender said in a statement carried by Russian news agencies. The bank said its subsidiaries in Europe were facing an “abnormal outflow of funds and a threat to the safety of employees and branches,” according to Russian news agencies. They did not provide details of the threats. Authorities in Austria and Czech Republic had taken actions in recent days against Sberbank’s activities in Europe. They were targeted last week by tough US sanctions aimed at limiting their businesses internationally and over the weekend barred from the international SWIFT payment system. The move was the latest consequence of Russia’s invasion last week, which has led to warfare across Ukraine and unprecedented Western sanctions aimed at isolating Russia’s economy. With Moscow having failed in its aim to swiftly overthrow Ukraine's government after nearly a week, Western countries are worried that it is switching to new, far more violent tactics to blast its way into cities it had expected to easily take. In pics-Ukraine invasion:These assets of Russian President Putin can be seized More than 836,000 people have fled Ukraine since the Russian invasion, the UN's refugee agency says, with the number rising rapidly. European banking regulators said Tuesday that the European subsidiary of Russia's Sberbank would be wound up. Sberbank's Austria-based European arm, Sberbank Europe AG, would be allowed to enter "normal insolvency proceedings", while branches in Croatia and Slovenia were sold to local banks, the European banking supervisory authority said. On Monday, the European Central Bank had said that the European affiliate was "failing or likely to fail" after it "experienced significant deposit outflows as a result of the reputational impact of geopolitical tensions". Sberbank Europe AG also has subsidiaries in Bosnia, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Serbia, which do not come under the jurisdiction of the European Central Bank. (With inputs from agencies)

Ukraine invasion: Russia's largest lender Sberbank leaving Europe

SberAutoTech, a subsidiary of Russia's largest lender Sberbank, has developed a fully self-driving vehicle, FLIP, which the company on Thursday described as a "taxi of the future".

Sberbank is diversifying in areas ranging from food delivery and taxi services to cloud computing and cyber-security and has made technological strides. Last year it unveiled a new virtual assistant, smart speaker, and other gadgets.

FLIP is the size of a conventional passenger car but with space for six passengers, SberAutoTech said.

It has met the maximum requirement of international automated driving standards, but so far has only been tested on closed tracks.

SberAutoTech did not disclose how much it had invested in the project or any details about prices, suppliers or its expected production timeline.

Replaceable batteries power the vehicle's electric motor, but it can also harness the power of alternative fuels like natural gas and hydrogen, SberAutoTech said.

"The company's know-how is the battery layout, which allows for all modules to be replaced in no more than five minutes, comparable to refilling a standard car with traditional fuel," the company said in a statement.

"The flexible architecture of SberAutoTech's self-driving&nbsp;technology&nbsp;will enable us to roll out solutions across a variety of verticals, like freight transport, last mile, and taxis," said Sberbank Chief&nbsp;Technology&nbsp;Officer David Rafalovksy.

The curved design, with no obvious front or rear, resembles the flying vehicles from the 1985 Soviet TV series 'Guest from the Future', which were also called 'Flip'. SberAutoTech did not say whether the film had inspired the design.

Russian market leader Yandex has already tested thousands of driverless hours in Russian cities and abroad, while its driverless robot buggies have started delivering restaurant meals in Moscow.

(With inputs from agencies)

SberAutoTech, a subsidiary of Russia's largest lender Sberbank, has developed a fully self-driving vehicle, FLIP, which the company on Thursday described as a "taxi of the future".

SberAutoTech, a subsidiary of Russia's largest lender Sberbank, has developed a fully self-driving vehicle, FLIP, which the company on Thursday described as a "taxi of the future". Sberbank is diversifying in areas ranging from food delivery and taxi services to cloud computing and cyber-security and has made technological strides. Last year it unveiled a new virtual assistant, smart speaker, and other gadgets. FLIP is the size of a conventional passenger car but with space for six passengers, SberAutoTech said. It has met the maximum requirement of international automated driving standards, but so far has only been tested on closed tracks. SberAutoTech did not disclose how much it had invested in the project or any details about prices, suppliers or its expected production timeline. Replaceable batteries power the vehicle's electric motor, but it can also harness the power of alternative fuels like natural gas and hydrogen, SberAutoTech said. "The company's know-how is the battery layout, which allows for all modules to be replaced in no more than five minutes, comparable to refilling a standard car with traditional fuel," the company said in a statement. "The flexible architecture of SberAutoTech's self-driving technology will enable us to roll out solutions across a variety of verticals, like freight transport, last mile, and taxis," said Sberbank Chief Technology Officer David Rafalovksy. The curved design, with no obvious front or rear, resembles the flying vehicles from the 1985 Soviet TV series 'Guest from the Future', which were also called 'Flip'. SberAutoTech did not say whether the film had inspired the design. Russian market leader Yandex has already tested thousands of driverless hours in Russian cities and abroad, while its driverless robot buggies have started delivering restaurant meals in Moscow. (With inputs from agencies)

'Taxi of future': Russia's SberAutoTech unveils fully autonomous vehicle FLIP

Popular dating app Tinder is now required to share users' data with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/two-people-missing-after-blasts-at-russian-military-plant-22-injured-223432">Russian security services</a> after being placed on an official register, the country's telecoms watchdog said Monday.

Tinder has over 50 million users swiping right to select dating profiles and find a match. It is part of the US-based Match Group of social apps whose parent firm is InterActiveCorp.&nbsp;

The Roskomnadzor watchdog said that Tinder has been added to its register "after it presented the necessary information".

Roskomnadzor -- together with Russia's law enforcement authorities and security agencies including the feared FSB, the successor to the KGB -- keeps a register of so-called "organisers of information distribution".&nbsp;

The register lists 175 sites and services including Russia's biggest bank Sberbank and the country's popular social media network VK.

By law, the companies on the register must store user data in Russia for six months -- including the content of messages exchanged -- and hand over any of the information to law enforcement authorities if requested to do so.

If the company refuses to comply, the authorities can act to block sites, as was the case last year with the embattled Telegram messaging app, created by maverick Russian Internet guru Pavel Durov.

In a statement, a Tinder spokesperson said the company had "received a request to register with the Russian authorities, and, as of now, we have registered to be compliant".

"However, this registration in no way shares any user or personal data with any Russian regulatory bodies and we have not handed over any data to their government," the spokesperson added.

Some Russian internet users made fun of the move, warning that FSB officers will now have access to any steamy correspondence or unrequited pickup attempts.

Popular dating app Tinder is now required to share users' data with Russian security services after being placed on an official register, the country's telecoms watchdog said Monday.

Popular dating app Tinder is now required to share users' data with Russian security services after being placed on an official register, the country's telecoms watchdog said Monday. Tinder has over 50 million users swiping right to select dating profiles and find a match. It is part of the US-based Match Group of social apps whose parent firm is InterActiveCorp. The Roskomnadzor watchdog said that Tinder has been added to its register "after it presented the necessary information". Roskomnadzor -- together with Russia's law enforcement authorities and security agencies including the feared FSB, the successor to the KGB -- keeps a register of so-called "organisers of information distribution". The register lists 175 sites and services including Russia's biggest bank Sberbank and the country's popular social media network VK. By law, the companies on the register must store user data in Russia for six months -- including the content of messages exchanged -- and hand over any of the information to law enforcement authorities if requested to do so. If the company refuses to comply, the authorities can act to block sites, as was the case last year with the embattled Telegram messaging app, created by maverick Russian Internet guru Pavel Durov. In a statement, a Tinder spokesperson said the company had "received a request to register with the Russian authorities, and, as of now, we have registered to be compliant". "However, this registration in no way shares any user or personal data with any Russian regulatory bodies and we have not handed over any data to their government," the spokesperson added. Some Russian internet users made fun of the move, warning that FSB officers will now have access to any steamy correspondence or unrequited pickup attempts.

Russia requires Tinder to share users' data with security services

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