Key facts
- Senior Russian finance and central bank officials warned President Putin that current war spending is unsustainable.
- Officials proposed defense spending cuts to Putin.
- Putin appears unfazed by the warnings about war spending.
- Russia reported downing 50 drones over the Leningrad region.
- Russia reported downing 20 drones targeting Moscow.
- Pulkovo airport in St. Petersburg temporarily restricted flights.
- A drone attack in Donetsk killed seven and injured eleven.
- Prominent war supporters Oleg Tsaryov and Aleksey Chadaev doubt Putin can achieve total victory in Ukraine.
- Russia is reportedly intensifying air attacks to mask battlefield struggles.
- A division between Russia's siloviki and economic organs is resurfacing.
- Defense Minister Andrei Belousov is reportedly unable to bridge the gap between security and economic factions.
- A $75 million Western-built Bombardier Global 7500 jet is at Moscow's Vnukovo airport.
Senior Russian finance and central bank officials have warned President Vladimir Putin that the current level of war spending is unsustainable and poses a significant risk of widening the national budget deficit. These officials reportedly proposed cuts to defense spending as a measure to address the fiscal concerns. However, President Putin appears unfazed by these warnings and proposals.
Concurrently, Russia reported downing 50 drones over the Leningrad region and an additional 20 drones targeting Moscow as President Putin's economic forum commenced. The drone activity near St. Petersburg led to temporary flight restrictions at Pulkovo airport. In a separate incident, a drone attack in Donetsk resulted in seven fatalities and eleven injuries.
Amidst these developments, prominent war supporters within Russia, including Oleg Tsaryov and Aleksey Chadaev, have expressed doubts about President Putin's ability to achieve a total victory in Ukraine. This sentiment emerges as reports indicate Russia is intensifying its air attacks, potentially to mask struggles on the battlefield.
A long-standing division between Russia's security-focused 'siloviki' and its economic technocrats is reportedly resurfacing. Defense Minister Andrei Belousov, who has an economics background, is said to be unable to bridge this gap, suggesting ongoing internal power struggles within the government.
Further highlighting the context of wealth and resources, a $75 million Bombardier Global 7500, a luxury jet built in the West, has been observed at Moscow's Vnukovo airport. This aircraft is among those utilized by close allies of Russian President Vladimir Putin.