INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Russia's government plans to increase defense spending by about 30% next year as it diverts more resources to fund its war in Ukraine,
seen since the Soviet era, as it pumps out missiles and drones to fire at Ukraine and increases salaries in its effort to build up its
according to a document published on the parliament's website.That figure does not include some other resources being directed to the
military campaign, such as spending that Russia labels as "domestic security" and some outlays classified as top secret.Combined spending on
2025.Before sending the draft budget to the lower-house State Duma, Moscow trumpeted an increase in investment and social welfare alongside
higher military outlays.The "top priority" of the budget is "social support for citizens," Finance Minister Anton Siluanov told a televised
special military operation and support for families of those participating in the special military operation," he added, using Russia's
official language for its war in Ukraine.But the figures suggest that military expenditures have crowded out spending in other areas of the
economy.Planned spending on "national defense" is more than twice that allocated to social spending.
