Russia may raise military spending by 40% despite budget hole

The Russian government plans to significantly increase military spending in 2026, even though the budget deficit had reached RUB 6 trillion (more than US$81.7 billion) by early June and exceeded the figure for the whole of last year.

Source: The Moscow Times, an independent Amsterdam-based news outlet

Details: War spending may be 40%, or RUB 4-5 trillion (US$54.4-68 billion), higher than planned. The military budget could rise to almost RUB 18 trillion (US$244.8 billion).

Russia's budget initially allocated RUB 12.9 trillion (US$175.4 billion) to "national defence", slightly less than a year earlier. If spending is increased, it will account for around 41% of all planned Russian treasury expenditure.

Russia may raise military spending by 40% despite budget hole

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