Va trece Putin la austeritate? Sfârșitul iluziei economice din Rusia

Following the invasion of Ukraine, the Kremlin has struggled to conceal the financial burden of the war on ordinary Russians. Major companies have borne significant costs, and state reserves are dwindling. The government is now unable to support online markets affected by drone attacks and has not resolved the gasoline deficit. Companies are forced to fund their own air defense and repairs. This shift indicates that the Kremlin may need to determine who will bear the costs of the war, which could have political repercussions. While the Russian economy is not collapsing, it faces gradual crises across various sectors, leading to a potential need for a total war economy or a retreat from war financing. The situation is exacerbated by declining macroeconomic indicators and a shrinking tax base, suggesting that difficult decisions are imminent.