Russia’s lower house, State Duma has approved a three-year budget allocating a record 13.5 trillion rubles, or approximately 133.63 billion dollars, to national defence in 2025. This accounts for nearly 40 per cent of the government’s total spending and 6.31 per cent of the country’s projected GDP.

The budget excludes classified expenditures and funds for the war in Ukraine, categorised separately under ‘National Security’. Combined spending on defence and national security will surpass allocations for education, healthcare, social programs, and economic development in 2025.

The bill now moves to the Federation Council for approval on Wednesday before being signed into law by President Vladimir Putin, who has prioritised defence spending. Although defense allocations are set to decline slightly in 2026 and 2027, the budget indicates Russia’s economy will remain on a war footing for the foreseeable future.