Russian officials warn Putin war costs strain budget

Senior Russian officials have warned President Vladimir Putin that the financial burden of the war in Ukraine is becoming unsustainable, creating internal pressure over soaring defense spending. According to reports, officials from the Finance Ministry and the central bank have cautioned that current and projected levels of military expenditure risk pushing the budget deficit to unsafe levels.

Financial strain on the federal budget is already acute. Official figures show Russia’s deficit reached 5.9 trillion rubles by April, far exceeding the full-year target of 3.8 trillion rubles. This is the largest deficit recorded since the full-scale invasion began. Finance Minister Anton Siluanov has acknowledged the pressure, stating that reserves are not endless and that efficiency in budget spending must improve. Internal documents reportedly indicate military spending for this year is already expected to exceed earlier plans by approximately 2 trillion rubles.

In response to the warnings, President Putin has directed the finance ministry to seek savings in other areas of the budget before cutting defense spending. This order aligns with resistance from defense and security officials,...