Russia Raises Propaganda Spending by 54% as Battlefield Losses Mount

Russia is dramatically increasing its budget for propaganda despite scaling back military expenditures, underscoring the Kremlin’s growing dependence on information warfare to compensate for its failures on the battlefield.

The Gaze reports this, referring to Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry.  

According to the statement, Moscow’s 2026 draft budget allocates 54% more funding for propaganda efforts compared to the previous year, even as broader defense spending declines.

“This clearly reveals the priorities of the aggressor state – unable to win on the battlefield, Russia is betting on disinformation,” Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said.

The minister warned that the Kremlin’s information warfare remains a central element of its aggression, aiming to distort global narratives and undermine Ukraine’s international partners.

He also underscored that in modern diplomacy, information is as powerful as conventional weapons, and Ukraine continues to strengthen its resilience against propaganda and psychological operations targeting its population and allies.

Analysts note that the Kremlin’s propaganda machine plays a crucial role in sustaining domestic support for the war and manipulating foreign audiences. 

The latest budget figures highlight Russia’s shift from conventional to hybrid warfare tactics, investing heavily in media control, online influence campaigns, and foreign-language propaganda networks.

As The Gaze previously informed, British intelligence, Russia is imposing political propaganda on Ukrainian children in the occupied territories, in particular through military-patriotic organizations and special educational programs.