Russia's military spending jumps 40% as Kremlin prepares for prolonged war
Photo: Vladimir Putin (Getty Images)
Russia has increased spending on its military by more than 40% and does not plan to sharply reduce it in the coming years, Bloomberg reports.
Next year, Russia wants to spend 17.1 trillion rubles on military needs, or about $205 billion. This is more than 40% higher than the amount planned for defense this year. The actual amounts for this year are classified.
Compared with the year before the start of the war, spending has increased by almost 380%.
According to officials' forecasts, spending will slightly decrease to 16.6 trillion rubles in 2028, and to 16.3 trillion rubles in 2029.
According to Bloomberg's assessment, the war is increasingly shaping the priorities of Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin, despite the growing burden on the economy and public finances.
What has changed compared with last year's plan
Last year, Moscow planned to moderately increase military spending. It wanted to reduce the budget deficit and replenish reserves depleted by the war.
The previous plan was drawn up at a time when US President Donald Trump had stepped up efforts to mediate between Moscow and Kyiv. They are still ongoing, but have not brought the sides closer to a peace deal. In September, US envoys held another round of talks with the Kremlin chief in Moscow and then traveled to Kyiv. There was no significant breakthrough.
Now the talks have largely reached a dead end. European officials are increasingly warning about hybrid attacks from Moscow, while Russia continues to strike Ukrainian cities and infrastructure.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that in September, the Kremlin chief ordered the military to abandon all rules of war.
Ukrainian intelligence services learned about this after intercepting talks between Kremlin officials.
Russia is also preparing the largest campaign of strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure since the start of the war.
It involves launching up to 1,000 missiles, drones and bombs at power plants, substations and water supply facilities.
