Putin Approves Record $145 Billion Defense Budget for 2025, 32.5% of Total Spending

Dec 1, 2024, 03:56 PM

Russian President Vladimir Putin has approved Russia's budget for 2025-2027, significantly increasing military spending to record levels. The 2025 budget allocates approximately 32.5% of the country's total expenditures to national defense, amounting to about 13.5 trillion rubles ($145 billion), an increase of 25% from the previous year. This military expenditure represents 6.3% of Russia's GDP and marks the highest level of defense spending in the country's post-Soviet history. Notably, a third of the budget is classified, making it the most secretive budget since the Soviet era. The defense spending surpasses the combined expenditures on education, healthcare, social policy, and the national economy. This move reflects Russia's ongoing commitment to strengthening its military capabilities amid the conflict in Ukraine.