Russia funnels nearly half its budget into defence, cutting social spending

Russia's parliament will vote later this month on a budget that allocates a record 44% of federal spending to defence and security — double the share for social programmes — as the Kremlin presses ahead with a fifth year of all-out war in Ukraine. The State Duma, Russia's lower house of parliament, is due to begin examining the 2027–2029 draft on 22 October. President Vladimir Putin's United Russia party won an absolute constitutional majority in September's parliamentary elections, making major amendments unlikely before it passes. Military expenditure this year has reached 17 trillion roubles (€181 billion) against the 12.