Russian Defense Budget

Russia Admits War Costs Consume 80% of Defense Budget

Russia’s decision to publicly admit that a staggering 80% of its defense budget is being consumed by the war in Ukraine is, well, something. It’s a rare glimpse behind the curtain, a moment of startling transparency in a situation that has been, to put it mildly, opaque. This admission, however, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s all sunshine and roses for Russia; far from it, in fact. It just confirms what many have suspected: this war is a massive, expensive undertaking, and it’s taking a huge bite out of Russia’s resources.

The numbers themselves are pretty eye-popping. With military spending reportedly at 7.3% of GDP, the true cost is probably much higher than officially stated.… Continue reading