War on Ukraine Costs Russian Taxpayers $550 Billion – Ukrainian Intelligence
The war against Ukraine has cost Russian taxpayers approximately $550 billion since early 2022, with a significant portion being covered by the population.
The Gaze reports this, citing the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine on Telegram.
In the first three quarters of 2025, Russia spent over 11 trillion rubles on the war, with 59% of these expenditures remaining classified. The closed portion of the budget increased by 39% year-on-year, while pressure on the population has intensified due to new taxes and the continuous rise in prices of goods and services.
“Under conditions where any anti-war criticism is punished as ‘treason,’ the space for public discontent has practically disappeared. As a result, prices for Russians have been rising continuously from 2022 to 2025,” the report states.
The average cost of utilities has increased by 43%, fuel prices by 29–35%, and real estate prices have jumped 50% from 2022 to 2025, with further growth expected in 2026.
According to preliminary intelligence reports, public sentiment in Russia at the end of 2025 shows a deepening of negative expectations. For example, 67% of citizens identify inflation as their main concern, which is exacerbated by rising fuel and food prices.
Official statistics that show a slowdown in inflation to 5.8% have not eased social tensions, while declining demand among low- and middle-income households only highlights the existing problem.
“The Kremlin is attempting to offset economic dissatisfaction with rhetoric about ‘stability,’ but the reality — rising living costs, stagnant incomes, and the absence of prospects for ending the war — is leading to further accumulation of latent protest and demands for a shift in government priorities,” the Ukrainian intelligence notes.
Despite this, Russia continues its aggressive policy toward Ukraine and shows no intention of resolving the conflict. Following recent successful talks between Ukrainian President Zelenskyy and his American counterpart Trump, Russia responded with another information campaign aimed at undermining the negotiation process.
As The Gaze reported earlier, in response to the false claims from the Kremlin about the so-called attack on the Russian president’s residence, Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned of a possible strike on Ukrainian government structures.
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