Russia plans to keep defense spending at historic highs in 2025, with a proposed budget of 13.2 trillion rubles ($142 billion), according to a draft budget revealed by Bloomberg.
Russia’s official 2022 military budget is expected to be 4.7 trillion rubles ($75 billion) or higher and about $84 billion for 2023, 40% more than the initial military budget announced in 2021. Reuters reported that government documents showed military spending would exceed $100 billion in 2023.
The allocation represents a sharp increase from the 10.4 trillion rubles projected for 2024, and defense spending is expected to account for 6.2% of Russia’s GDP in 2025.
This surge in military expenditure signals the Kremlin’s continued prioritization of defense and domestic security amid the ongoing war in Ukraine and broader regional tensions. Defense and security spending alone are projected to consume approximately 40% of Russia’s total budget in 2025, surpassing the combined allocations for education, healthcare, social policies, and the national economy.
The draft budget also shows a notable rise in secret or unspecified spending, forecast to reach 12.9 trillion rubles in 2025, up from the 11.1 trillion initially planned for 2024. This category now represents about 30% of total budget expenditures, further highlighting Russia’s commitment to defense and intelligence activities.
Military spending is expected to decline slightly in the years following 2025, with defense expenditures set at 5.6% of GDP in 2026 and 5.1% in 2027. However, the 2025 budget still marks a historic peak in Russia’s defense investment, driven by the country’s ongoing military engagements.
The increased defense budget comes as Russia continues to navigate a challenging economic landscape, impacted by sanctions, international isolation, and a protracted conflict in Ukraine.
According to Kommersant, a Russian daily newspaper, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said it was difficult to put a budget together because world trade was diminishing, global GDP growth was slowing, and sanctions and restrictions from “unfriendly nations” were spreading.
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