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The effects of sanctions on Russian banks in TARGET2 transactions data

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  • Drott, Constantin
  • Goldbach, Stefan
  • Nitsch, Volker

Abstract

This paper examines the effect of financial sanctions at the most disaggregated level possible, individual bank accounts. Using data from the Eurosystem's real-time gross settlement system TARGET2, we provide empirical evidence that sanctions imposed by the European Union on Russian banks following Russia's aggression against Ukraine in 2014 and 2022 have sizably reduced financial transactions with sanctioned Russian bank accounts, both along the extensive and intensive margins. Among the various sanction measures taken, exclusion from SWIFT, a global provider of secure financial messaging services, turns out to have the largest effects.

Suggested Citation

  • Drott, Constantin & Goldbach, Stefan & Nitsch, Volker, 2024. "The effects of sanctions on Russian banks in TARGET2 transactions data," Darmstadt Discussion Papers in Economics 245, Darmstadt University of Technology, Department of Law and Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:darddp:281199
    DOI: 10.26083/tuprints-00026541
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Tibor Besedeš & Stefan Goldbach & Volker Nitsch, 2017. "You’re banned! The effect of sanctions on German cross-border financial flows," Economic Policy, CEPR, CESifo, Sciences Po;CES;MSH, vol. 32(90), pages 263-318.
    2. Joakim Gullstrand, 2020. "What goes around comes around: The effects of sanctions on Swedish firms in the wake of the Ukraine crisis," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 43(9), pages 2315-2342, September.
    3. Besedeš, Tibor & Goldbach, Stefan & Nitsch, Volker, 2021. "Cheap talk? Financial sanctions and non-financial firms," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).
    4. Anna Miromanova, 2023. "Quantifying the trade‐reducing effect of embargoes: Firm‐level evidence from Russia," Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue canadienne d'économique, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 56(3), pages 1121-1160, August.
    5. Ahn, Daniel P. & Ludema, Rodney D., 2020. "The sword and the shield: The economics of targeted sanctions," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 130(C).
    6. Matthieu Crozet & Julian Hinz, 2020. "Friendly fire: the trade impact of the Russia sanctions and counter-sanctions," Economic Policy, CEPR, CESifo, Sciences Po;CES;MSH, vol. 35(101), pages 97-146.
    7. Callaway, Brantly & Sant’Anna, Pedro H.C., 2021. "Difference-in-Differences with multiple time periods," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 225(2), pages 200-230.
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    Cited by:

    1. Mikhail Mamonov & Anna Pestova & Steven Ongena, 2023. "'Crime and Punishment'? How Banks Anticipate and Propagate Global Financial Sanctions," Swiss Finance Institute Research Paper Series 23-59, Swiss Finance Institute.
    2. Chowdhry, Sonali & Heiland, Inga & Mahlkow, Hendrik, 2026. "Quantitative trade with ships," Kiel Working Papers 2314, Kiel Institute for the World Economy.
    3. Tibor Besedeš & Stefan Goldbach & Volker Nitsch, 2024. "Smart or smash? The effect of financial sanctions on trade in goods and services," Review of International Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(1), pages 223-251, February.
    4. Devasmita Jena & C. Akash & Prachi Gupta, 2024. "Deflecting economic sanctions: do trade and political alliances matter?," International Economics and Economic Policy, Springer, vol. 21(3), pages 543-567, July.
    5. Maxim Chupilkin & Beata Javorcik & Aleksandra Peeva & Alexander Plekhanov, 2026. "Private Sanctions and Russia’s Imports," Comparative Economic Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Association for Comparative Economic Studies, vol. 68(1), pages 1-15, March.
    6. Kotbee Shin & Bo-Young Choi & Indira Shamsutdinova, 2025. "Unraveling the Impact of Russian Sanctions and Oil Prices on Exchange Rate: A Comparative Approach," Comparative Economic Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Association for Comparative Economic Studies, vol. 67(4), pages 723-749, December.
    7. Antonis Ballis, 2025. "Geopolitical Tensions and Financial Networks: Strategic Shifts Toward Alternatives," Papers 2505.21480, arXiv.org.

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • F38 - International Economics - - International Finance - - - International Financial Policy: Financial Transactions Tax; Capital Controls
    • F51 - International Economics - - International Relations, National Security, and International Political Economy - - - International Conflicts; Negotiations; Sanctions
    • G28 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Government Policy and Regulation

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