Swiss Newspaper Forecasts How Russia Will Pay for the War Against Ukraine.

The Swiss newspaper Neue Zürcher Zeitung published an article examining the long-term consequences of the war for Russia. According to the publication, the Kremlin will face enormous expenses for compensating the killed and injured invaders, as well as for their medical and psychological recovery. "After nearly two and a half years of exhausting war, both Ukraine and Russia have suffered terrible losses and spent hundreds of billions of dollars. Nevertheless, the conflict is unlikely to end soon, as both sides still believe they have more advantages. But the price will be paid not only on the battlefield. Even if the fighting stops today, the economic and demographic consequences for Russians will be felt for several generations," the article says. Financial Burden According to the newspaper's calculations, one-Time payments to the families of the killed and injured could reach 2.3 trillion rubles, which is about 6% of the state budget for 2024. In addition, the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in veterans will cost hundreds of billions of rubles annually. Medical Crisis The Russian medical system is not prepared for such an influx of patients. The country lacks specialized hospitals and qualified specialists. This could result in many veterans not receiving the necessary care, leading to social issues such as unemployment and crime. Psychological Trauma The authors of the article compare the situation to veterans of the Soviet war in Afghanistan and the Chechen wars, many of whom suffered from alcoholism, drug addiction, and legal problems. There is no culture of openly discussing psychological trauma in Russia, complicating veterans' rehabilitation. Political Consequences Increasing costs for social support of veterans may lead to cuts in other budget items, causing public dissatisfaction. This could become a political vulnerability for the Kremlin. The aggressive war against Ukraine will leave Russia with a large number of affected individuals and an empty state treasury. The consequences of this conflict will be felt for many generations.