The rouble was little changed at 65.55 versus the dollar as of 0727 GMT, trading at a distance from its weakest level since April 2016 of 70.60 it hit last month amid intensified concerns about new US sanctions.

"The sanctions-related risk premium is still there but higher oil prices are playing on the rouble's side," said a dealer at a major Russian bank in Moscow.

Versus the euro, the rouble gained 0.2 percent to 75.95 , hovering at levels last seen in mid-August.

Russian assets felt support from a recent increase in prices for oil, the country's chief exports.

Brent crude oil prices rose to their highest since November 2014 ahead of US sanctions against Iran, the third-largest producer in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), that kick in next month.

The rouble-based MOEX stock index was 0.6 percent higher at 2,490.9 points after briefly hitting a record high of 2,493.03. Its dollar-denominated peer RTS was up 0.3 percent to 1,196.1 points.