Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleRussia expects to overspend significantly on its Ukraine war efforts this year, potentially by at least $28bn, with Finance Minister Anton Siluanov warning of a possible ₽4trn overspend in a "negative scenario". Mr Siluanov urged the cabinet to freeze approximately ₽2.9 trillion Russian roubles ($40.8bn) in non-war-related spending and projected further ₽4trn overspends in 2027 and 2028. The country's budget deficit has already swelled to ₽5.9trn by April, considerably higher than the anticipated ₽3.8trn for the year. Despite sanctions, Russia's economy, boosted by defence and industry, rose to become the world's ninth largest last year, though the war economy is now exhibiting signs of strain. Russia's military advances in Ukraine have slowed considerably, with only 104 square kilometres seized this year compared to 1,619 square kilometres in the same period last year. In fullRussia’s ballooning $28bn Ukraine war bill forces Putin to make spending cutsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in

Russia's spending on the war against Ukraine could exceed the amount allocated in this year's budget by at least RUB 2 trillion, or US$28 billion.

Russia’s spending on the war against Ukraine could exceed this year’s budget by $28 billion, forcing the Kremlin to consider cuts in other sectors, Moscow Finance Minister…