Russia prepares for a long war with record spending
Russian authorities are preparing for a protracted war in Ukraine, planning a record increase in military spending. According to Bloomberg, next year Russia intends to increase military spending by 40% compared to this year's plans, which is nearly 380% higher than the pre-war budget. Experts note that a significant portion of the funds will go to weapons production, as stockpiles are depleted.
Russian authorities are preparing for the war in Ukraine to last for years and are planning a record increase in military spending. This was reported by Bloomberg, citing expert data. Next year, Russia intends to increase military spending by 40% compared to this year's plans, which is nearly 380% higher than the Kremlin's pre-war budget. Journalists note that Moscow has moved away from the previous concept of moderate spending increases that was in place last year, when it sought to reduce the budget deficit and restore reserves. As noted by analyst Janis Kluge of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, Russia plans to allocate a significant portion of its defense budget to weapons production. He added that after nearly five years of war, a significant portion of Russia's stockpiles have been so depleted that they must be produced anew. The rising cost of the war could put pressure on the West, especially amid Russia's increasingly confrontational rhetoric toward NATO. European officials warn of the risk of an intensified hybrid campaign from Moscow. However, Kluge adds that the budget increase does not mean preparation for a war with NATO; the main reason is the changing nature of the war, as Ukraine strikes deeper into Russian territory.