Nearly Half of Russia's Budget Goes to War: Hourly Military Spending Revealed.

Russia’s Military Expenditure in 2026

According to UATV: In the first quarter of 2026, Russia’s military spending hit a record high of 5.9 trillion rubles. This surge reflects the heavy toll the war in Ukraine is taking on the national economy, with defense outlays now accounting for 46% of all federal budget expenditures. Despite a decline in tax revenues, the funds allocated to the war effort continue to climb.

Notably, initial secret spending rose by 43% compared to the first quarter of 2025. As Janis Kluge pointed out,

“this increase was largely driven by higher expenditures classified as 'secret'”

Economic Fallout from the War

On average, Russia spent 2.7 billion rubles per hour on the war against Ukraine. Since 2022, the conflict has cost Russian taxpayers a staggering 53.079 trillion rubles. This has raised serious concerns about the country’s financial stability, as a new wave of defaults on Russia’s corporate bond market has become the largest in a decade. Andriy Novak remarked that

“this already indicates the very dire state of key Russian companies”

It is worth noting that China now accounts for roughly 35% of Russia’s total foreign trade, a factor that may further shape the country’s economic outlook. The combination of rising military spending and troubles in the corporate sector highlights the complex economic challenges Russia faces amid the ongoing conflict.

The increase in military expenditures, which now consume a significant portion of the federal budget, could lead to further negative consequences for Russia’s economic stability, especially as tax revenues shrink. The war in Ukraine has already triggered serious financial problems, including corporate market defaults, signaling threats to key sectors of the economy. The close trade ties with China, a major partner, may also influence how Russia’s economy evolves in the coming months.