Russia Is Preparing for Record War Spending: What's Included in the 2027 Budget

The Russian government has presented a draft budget for 2027 and the 2028–2029 planning period. The document calls for further increases in spending on defense and law enforcement, while funding for a number of social programs will be cut. According to the authors of the report, this indicates that Russia is preparing for a protracted war.

The increase in military spending is planned to be offset, in particular, by new taxes and cuts to spending on social programs, healthcare, and other sectors. Reuters reports that in 2027, funding for social programs is expected to decrease by 7%, for education by 6%, and for healthcare by 6.8%.

Russia plans to allocate approximately 17.1 trillion rubles to defense in 2027. This is about 27% more than the 13.5 trillion rubles originally allocated in the 2026 budget.

This is reported by Russian propaganda media.

Putin rejected a proposal to halt attacks on Ukraine’s energy sector.

At the Valdai Forum, Putin repeated false claims about the war and threatened to use nuclear weapons.

The Russian Federation—an aggressor state—warned NATO in a diplomatic note that it is prepared to use its entire arsenal, including nuclear weapons, if Alliance countries attempt to isolate the Kaliningrad region from the rest of Russia. 

Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev stated that Europe should reassess the balance of military, economic, and diplomatic tools and prioritize diplomacy in its relations with Russia. According to him, further escalation could lead to the risk of a Russian nuclear strike.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that the North Atlantic Alliance sees no immediate threat to its territory and regards nuclear blackmail by Russia as an attempt to divert attention from its own defeats in Ukraine.