Russia to Increase Military Spending to Record 40 Percent of Budget

Russia plans to increase defense spending to 40 percent of its total national budget for 2025, Bloomberg reported on September 23.

Why it matters: This budget shows that Russia’s priority is military dominance and spending enough to ensure that dominance.

After two years of dramatic increases in military spending, Russia will not only maintain it, but increase it further. … The main thing that the draft Russian budget shows is this—Putin has no intention of stopping the war. He is determined to continue and believes he will win in a war of attrition.
—Boris Grozovsky, journalist at the Wilson Center think tank

Details: Three-year budget proposal drafts seen by Bloomberg show that Moscow plans to spend 13.2 trillion rubles (about $142 billion) on defense in 2025.

• Projections put Russia’s 2024 defense spending at 10.4 trillion rubles (about $111.5 billion).
• 2025’s figure would represent 6.2 percent of Russia’s gdp—more than the combined budgets for education, health care, the national economy and social policies.

Secret expenditures are projected to compose 30 percent of the budget—12.9 trillion rubles (about $138 billion).

Prophesied rise: Modern Russia is specifically mentioned in Bible prophecy. Scripture warns that it will become a military powerhouse and lead a coalition of nations that marshals the largest military force in human history.

Learn more: Read our free booklet Russia and China in Prophecy.