Russian authorities continue to increase war spending, even significantly exceeding the planned budget. According to year-end estimates for 2025, Russia’s military expenditures are almost 20% higher than initially planned, reports the Center for Countering Disinformation.
According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, total spending is expected to reach $198.8 billion, or 7.3% of GDP, which is $30 billion more than initially budgeted. On average, the state spends $2.7 billion per week, a sum that could fund the annual budget of a large region.
Unsustainable financial burden
These figures cover only the Ministry of Defense. Regions must separately cover contractor pay, compensation to families of the deceased, medical treatment for the wounded, prosthetics, and funerals. For many federal subjects, this becomes an unsustainable financial burden.
Even with a budget deficit and reduced oil and gas revenues, the Kremlin continues to ramp up military spending, ignoring risks to economic stability.
