Russia lost up to $450 billion in energy resources due to sanctions
Instead, defense spending in the Russian Federation exceeded social spending for the first time since the Soviet Union
Due to international sanctions, Russia has lost about $450 billion in revenues from its energy sector, and two-thirds of the liquid assets of the National Welfare Fund have already been spent.
As Ukrinform reports, this was stated by the Senior Military Advisor to the Permanent Mission of Great Britain to the OSCE, Lieutenant Colonel Joby Rimmer, during a meeting of the Forum for Security Cooperation in Vienna.
"Russia continues to escalate the conflict, and this has increasingly serious economic consequences for its population: the base rate in Russia has risen to 21%, which indicates deep financial instability; 40% of the Russian budget in 2025 is directed to defense; for the first time since the USSR, defense spending has exceeded social spending; two-thirds of the liquid assets of the National Welfare Fund have already been spent; due to international sanctions, Russia has lost an estimated $450 billion in revenues from the energy sector," said Colonel Rimmer.
According to him, such a policy indicates that the Kremlin deliberately puts war above the well-being of the people. "The Kremlin's choice leads to the impoverishment of Russia," the military adviser is convinced.
He stressed that the United Kingdom remains resolute in supporting Ukraine, including through economic, military and diplomatic assistance.
As reported by "Ukrainian Energy", the EU paid 23 billion euros for Russian energy resources in 2024. At the same time, the EU has not purchased Russian coal since 2022. The share of oil decreased from 27% to 3%, and the share of gas from 45% to 13%.
