[Russian President Vladimir Putin has approved a record-breaking defense budget, allocating 32.5% of the government’s total spending for national defense, a staggering $126 billion (13.5 trillion rubles). The 2025 budget is a slight increase from the previous record of $28 billion (three trillion rubles) set this year. The war in Ukraine has drained resources from both sides, with Ukraine receiving significant aid from Western allies, including Germany, which has pledged over $684 million in military equipment.
Russia’s war in Ukraine, the country’s largest conflict since World War II, has resulted in a slow and grinding war of attrition. Russia has been making gains on the front lines, but the strain on its economy and population is growing. In response, the Russian Central Bank raised interest rates to 21% in October, the highest in decades, to control inflation and labor shortages.
The Ukrainian military has been on the back foot, receiving billions of dollars in aid, while Russia has more weapons, ammunition, and personnel. However, Ukraine is facing significant battlefield losses, and the country is struggling to recruit new troops, with the last partial mobilization resulting in hundreds of thousands of men fleeing the country.
Russia has also received significant support from North Korea, with nearly 11,000 soldiers reportedly deployed in Kursk, and North Korean weaponry making up almost a third of the ballistic missiles fired at Ukraine this year. While the North Korean troops may help Russia’s efforts, the material losses could be harder to replace.
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