Russian Military Spending Soars to Record High in 2025 Budget

32.5% of Budget Allocated to National Defence Amid Ongoing War with Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin has approved a new national budget for 2025, marking a historic shift in spending priorities. A significant 32.5% of the total budget—over 137 billion euros—has been earmarked for national defence. This is a sharp increase from the 28.3% allocated for military spending in 2024. The growing share of the budget reflects Moscow’s continued prioritization of its military efforts, especially in the context of its ongoing war with Ukraine. In comparison, expenditures for healthcare, education, and social policies will be reduced, underscoring the government’s strategic focus on military objectives at the expense of domestic welfare.

War in Ukraine Drives Russia’s Defence Spending Surge
Ongoing Conflict Leads to Soaring Military Costs, Outpacing Other Sectors
The allocation of such a large portion of the national budget to defence comes as Russia’s war in Ukraine—the largest European conflict since World War II—shows no signs of abating. Despite billions in foreign aid to Ukraine from Western allies, Russia’s larger and better-equipped military continues to make gradual advances, particularly in the eastern regions of Ukraine. As the war intensifies, Russia’s government is increasingly channeling resources into its military forces, which are central to its strategy of maintaining pressure on Ukraine. This prioritization reflects the long-term nature of the conflict and Moscow’s determination to succeed in its military objectives.

Ongoing Casualties and Drone Strikes on Both Sides
Conflict Escalates with Continuous Drone and Missile Strikes in Ukraine and Russia
On the ground, the conflict is marked by continued violence, including fatal drone and missile strikes. On Sunday, a Russian drone attack in Kherson, Ukraine, struck a minibus, killing three people and injuring seven others. Similarly, a missile strike in the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro on Saturday resulted in four deaths and 24 injuries. The ongoing drone warfare between the two countries is a prominent feature of the conflict. On Sunday, Russia launched 78 drones into Ukraine, with Ukraine’s air force successfully intercepting and destroying 32 of them. Russia also faced its own casualties from drone attacks, with a Ukrainian strike in the Bryansk region killing a child. In total, Russia reported the downing of 29 Ukrainian drones across several western regions.