Russia to hike defence spending by a quarter in 2025
Al Jazeera
The increase represents a new post-Soviet high for the country as it continues its war in Ukraine.
Russia is hiking state spending on national defence by a quarter in 2025 to 6.3 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), the highest level since the Cold War, according to draft budget documents.
Defence spending will rise to 13.5 trillion roubles ($145bn) in 2025, the fourth year of what Russia calls “a special military operation” in Ukraine, up 25 percent from the 2024 level, the documents published on Monday showed.
Defence spending will account for 32 percent of total 2025 budget expenditure of 41.5 trillion roubles ($446bn).
The draft budget was officially submitted on Monday to the State Duma, the lower house of parliament, for review.
In last year’s draft, the government planned to reduce defence spending by 21 percent in 2025. The reversal shows the scale of state planners’ continued focus on the military.
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