Kathrine Frich
When a massive project drags on for years, the national wallet eventually runs dry.
Citizens feel the financial squeeze first.
But now, major cracks are finally starting to show right inside the ruling party.
Breaking the silence
A Russian lawmaker declared that the country needs to end the war. State Duma deputy Renat Suleimanov claims the national economy is cracking under the pressure.
The endless fighting simply costs too much. Warning about the sheer scale of the financial drain, his message was stark: “We won’t last.”
In a blunt interview with Kontinent Sibir, the politician noted that military hardware does nothing for normal people.
“Officially, 40 percent of the federal budget is allocated to defense and security,” Suleimanov told the publication.
Bleeding cash
He questioned what kind of investment or development is even possible now. Tanks and missiles have no actual utility value for society.
“These are pure expenditures,” he stated.
Numbers reported by The Moscow Times paint a grim picture. Under the 2026 federal budget, combined defense and security spending will hit roughly 16.84 trillion rubles.
The military machine swallows almost forty percent of state funds. Back in 2021, that number sat at just twenty-four percent.
Shrinking economy
Everyday citizens are paying the price. Social spending will drop heavily this year. Meanwhile, the national deficit skyrocketed to almost six trillion rubles in just four months.
Things are going backward across the wider financial landscape. The Russian economy began to contract in the first quarter, with the gross domestic product falling by 0.2 percent.
Government officials clearly see the trouble brewing. In May, the authorities slashed their economic growth forecast for the year.
Hard times ahead
They expect almost zero growth. This represents a massive drop compared to recent years. The Ministry of Economic Development even warns of a possible total decline if global oil prices drop too low.
Families will feel the toughest blows in the coming months. Real income growth for Russian citizens will nearly freeze completely this year.
Official forecasts suggest retail shopping will slow down dramatically as the year goes on. Sales might even shrink.
Suleimanov warned that ending the war will not magically fix these money problems. He pointed out that rebuilding shattered territories and supporting returning troops will require colossal amounts of cash.
Sources: The Moscow Times, Kontinent Sibir, Onet.
