How Russians are paying for the war against Ukraine
kremlin is seeking new ways to fund its war against Ukraine, including at the expense of ordinary russians. russian government plans to significantly raise environmental fee rates, which will lead to price increases for many goods.
▫️ Depending on the type of product, environmental fee rates will increase two to five times compared to the current rates. russian ministry of ratural resources explains this initiative as a necessity to make the fee rates “economically justified.” However, the real reason is the need to plug budget gaps caused by the war and sanctions.
The colossal costs of the war against Ukraine, sanctions, and falling oil and gas revenues are depleting russia’s treasury. By May of this year, a large portion of the National Welfare Fund — russia’s “financial cushion” — had been spent. In search of additional funds, taxes, duties, and excise taxes were raised starting in 2025.
Unwilling to end its aggressive war against Ukraine, kremlin continues to dig deeper into the pockets of russians, forcing them to pay for putin’s geopolitical ambitions.
