Putin’s War Machine: Russia unveils record-breaking $126 billion defense budget

Moscow (Daily Pakistan Online) Russian President Vladimir Putin has approved a record-breaking defense budget of $126 billion (13.5 trillion rubles) for 2025, accounting for 32.5% of the government’s total spending. This significant increase is largely driven by the ongoing war in Ukraine, which has been draining resources from both sides for nearly three years.
The new budget represents a $28 billion (three trillion rubles) increase from the previous record set this year. Despite a forecasted slight reduction in military spending for 2026 and 2027, Russia’s military expenditures are expected to remain high.
The war in Ukraine has put a significant strain on both countries’ resources. Ukraine has received billions of dollars in aid from its Western allies, including over half a billion dollars in new military equipment pledged by Germany. However, the continuation of US aid under President-elect Donald Trump remains uncertain.
Russia’s increased military spending has led to economic challenges, including high inflation and labor shortages. The Russian Central Bank has raised interest rates to 21%, the highest in decades, in an attempt to control the situation.
The conflict has also seen the involvement of other countries, with North Korea sending approximately 11,000 soldiers to support Russia’s efforts. Additionally, some of Russia’s weaponry is also North Korean, accounting for almost a third of the ballistic missiles fired at Ukraine this year.