Putin risks "financial dilemma" - "Social tensions" in Russia are growing
Created: 2022-12-13, 4:46 p.m
By: Tobias Utz
Putin's war goals in Ukraine are being missed.
The heavy losses of the Russian army are now causing financial difficulties.
Moscow – Russia is likely to face a “financial dilemma” in the Ukraine war.
Vladimir Putin's goals could apparently soon lead to the state budget having to be rescheduled.
According to an analysis by the think tank Institute for the Study of War, the Russian president recently signed a law that will allocate 11 trillion rubles to law enforcement, defense and security.
That's the equivalent of $143 billion, which in turn corresponds to around 30 percent of the budget for 2023.
The ISW's assessment is based on a report by the British Ministry of Defense that identifies Putin's global "campaigns" as problematic.
This is reported by fr.de
"Putin still appears unwilling to sacrifice his geopolitical initiatives in the short term," says the Institute for the Study of War's analysis: "He risks falling into a financial dilemma he is unable to cope with." will be to reconcile his maximalist goals in Ukraine with his global campaigns for power projection.” In particular, the heavy losses in the Ukraine war pose difficulties for the Kremlin.
The "protracted war" has already resulted in Russia withdrawing "equipment and personnel" from "Syria and Nagorno-Karabakh".
News on the Ukraine war: "Social tensions" in Russia
The British Ministry of Defense meanwhile assumes that Putin's budget calculations were "probably too optimistic".
An intelligence report states that "income and expenses in 2023" were miscalculated.
"Therefore, other parts of the Russian budget are likely to come under increasing pressure to bear the costs of the war," the assessment said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin.
© Gavriil Grigorov / AFP
Domestic political reforms have been called for in Russia for some time. For example, the gap between the urban and rural population is widening.
In several regions there is a lack of infrastructure, among other things.
In addition, the lack of promised war bonuses for soldiers' families caused resentment in society.
According to the ISW, this leads to “increasing social tensions”.
The Ukraine War in Pictures - Destruction, Resistance and Hope
View photo gallery
It was only at the beginning of November that Putin announced, via a presidential decree, that Russian soldiers would receive a one-time payment of 195,000 rubles, the equivalent of 3,200 euros, for their combat missions in the Ukraine war.
This is for "social support".
There are also rumors about so-called bounties and kill bonuses for the armed forces.
The Russian Ministry of Defense backed this price list, which according to consistent media reports was published on Telegram.
Accordingly, the shooting down of a Ukrainian military aircraft should bring in a soldier the equivalent of 5,000 euros.
News about the Ukraine war: rumors about bounties and kill bonuses
According to the Kremlin, those wounded in the war also receive a settlement of around 50,000 euros.
In the event of the death of a soldier, Putin's government plans to pay around 80,000 euros in compensation to the surviving family.
It is not known whether these sums will ever reach the relatives.
According to the Ukrainian army, more than 95,000 Russian soldiers have died so far.
also read
Serbian military convoy is apparently rolling towards Kosovo – there is a risk of escalation in the middle of Europe
READ
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov: Relegation from respected diplomat to pariah by Putin's grace
READ
Medvedev threatens the West with "the most powerful weapons of destruction" - Zelenskyj sets a condition for the peace plan
READ
Baerbock gets involved in the Kosovo-Serbia conflict – Russia accuses her of sabotage
READ
"I want to live": More and more Russian soldiers are calling the Ukrainian hotline and want to surrender
READ
Fancy a journey of discovery?
My space
Editor's note
Some of the information on the Ukraine war comes from warring factions in the Ukraine conflict.
They cannot be independently verified immediately
(do)