FILE PHOTO: Russian President Vladimir Putin visits the Shcheglovsky Val machine building plant, in Tula © Thomson Reuters
Reuters: Exclusive: Russia doubles 2023 defense spending plan as war costs soar
LONDON (Reuters) – Russia has doubled its 2023 defence spending target to more than $100 billion – a third of all public expenditure – a government document reviewed by Reuters showed, as the costs of the war in Ukraine spiral and place growing strain on Moscow’s finances.
The figures shed light on Russia’s spending on the conflict at a time when sector-specific budget expenditure data is no longer published.
They show that in the first half of 2023 alone, Russia spent 12%, or 600 billion roubles, more on defence than the 4.98 trillion roubles ($54 billion) it had originally targeted for 2023.
Defence spending in the first six months of 2023 amounted to 5.59 trillion roubles, 37.3% of a total 14.97 trillion roubles spent in the period, the document showed. Russia’s budget plan envisages 17.1% of total funds spent on “National Defence”.
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WNU Editor: I think this number is a low-ball number. I think the decision was made in August/September of last year that since a negotiated end to the war was not going to happen, the Russian economy was to be put at a war time footing. The entire country is now completely focused on the war. and I see no signs of it ending anytime soon.
Russia Doubles 2023 Defense Spending Plan To A Third Of All Government Spending
Russia Revises Defense Budget Plan Amid Soaring Military Expenditures – Reuters — Moscow Times
Russia doubles 2023 defence budget to third of all government spending — The Telegraph
Reuters: Russia doubles defense spending plan for 2023 — Reuters