State Duma lawmakers on Thursday passed Russia’s three-year federal budget and a package of tax increases, bills aimed at shoring up government revenues as spending on the war against Ukraine remains a top priority for the Kremlin. Under the budget plan, the government expects revenue of 40.3 trillion rubles ($491.7 billion) next year and spending of 44 trillion rubles ($548.3 billion), leaving a projected deficit of 3.8 trillion rubles ($47.3 billion).
Defense and national security will account for roughly 38% of all spending in 2026, or 16.8 trillion rubles ($209.5 billion), which is slightly lower than in the previous two years but still far above pre-war levels. Lawmakers highlighted funding for domestic programs, including more than 10 trillion rubles ($124.6 billion) for family support measures and 50 billion rubles ($623 million) for a state-backed charity foundation aiding soldiers fighting in Ukraine and their families. Although overall spending will remain broadly stable, allocations reveal that the Kremlin’s priorities continue to lie in foreign policy and defense.
Alongside the budget plan, the State Duma approved a series of tax changes aimed at closing the fiscal gap created by soaring military expenditures and falling oil and gas revenues under Western sanctions. Russia’s value-added tax (VAT) will increase to 22% from 20%, a move expected to raise consumer prices higher.
State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin stated Thursday that lawmakers approved the federal budget and tax hikes “under difficult circumstances,” citing more than 30,000 sanctions imposed on Russia and what he called “unfriendly actions” by the EU targeting Russian assets. The budget passed with 349 votes in favor, while 56 lawmakers — mostly from the Communist Party — abstained. Only one deputy, Anton Krasnoshantov of United Russia, voted against the bill, though his vote was reportedly a technical error.
These measures reflect the Kremlin’s continued emphasis on sustaining military and foreign policy initiatives, even as other public services face tighter funding amidst sanctions and geopolitical strain.
Авторское резюме (одно предложение, 120–200 символов): Правительство РФ закрепило трехлетний бюджет и пакет налоговых мер, увеличив VAT до 22% и выделив средства на оборону и социальные программы, что подчеркивает приоритет военных расходов и внешней политики над другими сегментами бюджета.
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