June 14, 2026

The War Path to Bankruptcy


The War Path to Bankruptcy
Image generated by Claude AI.

The Kremlin is spending R65 billion rubles per day ($900,000) on its War on Ukraine.

This is as reported by Meduza. The publication reported that, according to calculations based on Finance Ministry data by Janis Kluge, a researcher at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, in the first quarter of this year, Russian spending on the war hit R5.908 trillion. That’s a 30 percent increase from 2025.

Kluge reported that Russian growth in war spending has been mostly through classified line items in the state budget. Over the past year, spending under such items grew by 43 percent, from R3.4 trillion to R4.9 trillion. About 85 percent of spending under the classified line items goes toward military needs.

Given that total federal spending in the first quarter of 2026 was R12.8 trillion, spending on the war accounted for 46 percent of all budget expenditures this quarter.

Meanwhile, Russia took in just R8.3 trillion in revenue during the first quarter of 2026, which represents a R4.5 trillion shortfall. And it also means that a sum equivalent to two-thirds of revenues that came into the state during the first quarter was funneled into the war.

The Moscow Times, citing Kluge, reported that during the first quarter Russia was spending R65 billion rubles each day on its war. For comparison’s sake, Meduza noted, that is equivalent to the annual budget of Novgorod Oblast or Oryol Oblast (69 billion and 61 billion rubles, respectively).

Meanwhile, Kluge said that the surge in spending in the first quarter could also be attributable to accounting hijinks – moving 2025 expenditures into 2026 in order to avoid going over the planned budget deficit for 2025.

You Might Also Like

Feeling the Burn
  • May 19, 2026

Feeling the Burn

Spring burns of Russian fields are both common and tragic.
Economy in Crisis?
  • September 13, 2025

Economy in Crisis?

A recent report summarized the potentially perilous state of the Russian economy.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

Steppe
July 15, 2022

Steppe

This is the work that made Chekhov, launching his career as a writer and playwright of national and international renown. Retranslated and updated, this new bilingual edition is a super way to improve your Russian.

Survival Russian
February 01, 2009

Survival Russian

Survival Russian is an intensely practical guide to conversational, colloquial and culture-rich Russian. It uses humor, current events and thematically-driven essays to deepen readers’ understanding of Russian language and culture. This enlarged Second Edition of Survival Russian includes over 90 essays and illuminates over 2000 invaluable Russian phrases and words.

Fearful Majesty
July 01, 2014

Fearful Majesty

This acclaimed biography of one of Russia’s most important and tyrannical rulers is not only a rich, readable biography, it is also surprisingly timely, revealing how many of the issues Russia faces today have their roots in Ivan’s reign.

The Latchkey Murders
July 01, 2015

The Latchkey Murders

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin is back on the case in this prequel to the popular mystery Murder at the Dacha, in which a serial killer is on the loose in Khrushchev’s Moscow...

Russian Rules
November 16, 2011

Russian Rules

From the shores of the White Sea to Moscow and the Northern Caucasus, Russian Rules is a high-speed thriller based on actual events, terrifying possibilities, and some really stupid decisions.

The Little Humpbacked Horse
November 03, 2014

The Little Humpbacked Horse

A beloved Russian classic about a resourceful Russian peasant, Vanya, and his miracle-working horse, who together undergo various trials, exploits and adventures at the whim of a laughable tsar, told in rich, narrative poetry.

Life Stories
September 01, 2009

Life Stories

The Life Stories collection is a nice introduction to contemporary Russian fiction: many of the 19 authors featured here have won major Russian literary prizes and/or become bestsellers. These are life-affirming stories of love, family, hope, rebirth, mystery and imagination, masterfully translated by some of the best Russian-English translators working today. The selections reassert the power of Russian literature to affect readers of all cultures in profound and lasting ways. Best of all, 100% of the profits from the sale of this book are going to benefit Russian hospice—not-for-profit care for fellow human beings who are nearing the end of their own life stories.

The Moscow Eccentric
December 01, 2016

The Moscow Eccentric

Advance reviewers are calling this new translation "a coup" and "a remarkable achievement." This rediscovered gem of a novel by one of Russia's finest writers explores some of the thorniest issues of the early twentieth century.

About Us

Russian Life is the 31-year-old publication of an award-winning publishing house that also creates books, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955