[popilewiz]

Those payments are not being made in roubles yet, most western countries have declined to make them directly. Instead Russia is offering them to open bank accounts in Russia where they could deposit euros or dollars, which then are converted into roubles.

The rouble is currently propped up by the dwindling currency reserves of the central bank and by the fact that you can't buy $/€/£ anywhere as a private citizen. The banks are out for the most part, the exchanges work with a giant commission and the supply of cash is just not there. You can exchange it virtually, but the rate is about 30% worse than the one advertised by the CB. This can't go on for much longer.