Russia ramps up arms production to offset losses from oil and gas sanctions
Photo: increasing production of tanks, drones, and missiles (Getty Images)
Russia is increasing its production of tanks, drones, and missiles, thereby compensating the elites for losses from sanctions that have negatively affected oil and gas trade, according to Andrii Kovalenko, head of the Center for Countering Dissinformation of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine.
"Russia continues to increase production of tanks, drones, helicopters, and missiles. All this is happening despite real economic problems,” Kovalenko says.
According to him, this demonstrates that Vladimir Putin is trying to compensate his elites, who earn money from the military-industrial complex, for losses in other sectors due to sanctions on defense orders.
"But such actions also testify to the immutability of Putin's regime's course to continue the war as the basis for the existence of this regime and present-day Russia," he adds.
The head of the NSDC's Information and Analytical Department also noted that, accordingly, without a change in this vision, it is impossible to protect Europe from war, unfortunately. Russia's regime and worldview must be changed.
The increase in Russian drone attacks on Ukrainian territory indicates the hyperactive work of Russia's defense industry.
For example, Uralvagonzavod, Russia's largest tank factory, showed significantly higher activity in 2024 than in 2023. The Arzamas plant, which manufactures armored personnel carriers, as well as the Kurganmashzavod and Motovilikha plants, which manufacture infantry fighting vehicles, are also experiencing a boom.
Despite this, the Russian industry still has certain limitations. Last year, the country relied on North Korea to supply a significant portion of the artillery ammunition used in Ukraine, but these supplies are not unlimited.
Russia is producing ammunition at an extraordinary rate. The Economist has learned the annual production volumes of Iskander and Kh-101 missiles.
