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Acostly troop mobilization, plunging energy prices and a new round of Western sanctions threaten to bear down on Russia’s already embattled economy and undermine the financial underpinnings of President Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine. Russia's Mobilization and Plunging Oil Prices Weaken Putin's Economic Hand Russia's Mobilization and Plunging Oil Prices Weaken Putin's Economic Hand © ALEXEY MALGAVKO/REUTERS The economic storm clouds come as Mr. Putin orders more financial resources directed at the war in Ukraine. The Kremlin’s decision to call up more than 300,000 soldiers will require new funds to equip, train and pay the new reinforcements, analysts said. It...

Russian oil has stopped flowing through a pipeline that feeds countries in Central and Eastern Europe, dealing another blow to a region contending with the loss of vital energy supplies from Russia. Transneft PJSC, the government-owned oil-pipeline operator, said Tuesday that crude exports through Ukrainian territory had halted on Aug. 4. It blamed payment difficulties caused by Western sanctions on Moscow and said Ukraine’s pipeline operator had declined to carry crude after it didn’t receive funds. A spokeswoman for Naftogaz NJSC, Ukraine’s state energy firm and the parent company of pipeline operator Ukrtransnafta, said it would issue a statement later...