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For the first time, members of the Russian State Duma have spoken of the need to end the ‘special military operation’, as the economy cannot cope

For the first time, members of the Russian State Duma have spoken of the need to end the ‘special military operation’, as the economy cannot cope

19 May 2026, 19:46

For the first time, members of the Russian State Duma have spoken of the need to end the ‘special military operation’, as the economy cannot cope — Russian soldier

Russia needs to ‘wrap up’ the war against Ukraine quickly, as the country’s economy cannot withstand a prolonged continuation of the ‘special military operation’.

This was stated by Renat Suleimanov, a State Duma deputy from the Communist Party of the Russian Federation.

“Officially, 40% of the federal budget goes on defence and security. What development, investment or capital expenditure can we talk about? Neither tanks nor shells have any consumer value: the economy produces them, but the population does not consume them. These are pure costs,” Suleimanov said in an interview with the publication “Kontinent Sibir”, as cited by The Moscow Times.

According to him, large-scale spending on the defence sector provides jobs, but at the same time leads to rising inflation and a reduction in social and investment spending from the budget.

At the same time, the MP emphasised that even after the war ends, “colossal expenditure” will be required to rebuild the occupied territories, as well as to support and reintegrate those returning from the front.

“The special operation has already lasted longer than the Great Patriotic War. God willing, it will end in victory, not a stalemate,” said Suleimanov.

According to the Russian Federation’s federal budget for 2026, military expenditure will amount to 12.93 trillion roubles, and taking into account expenditure on security and law enforcement activities – 16.84 trillion roubles. Thus, the security forces will receive a total of 38% of the budget, compared to 24% in pre-war 2021.

At the same time, the share allocated to social spending, conversely, will fall from 38.1% in 2021 to 25.1% this year.

It is worth recalling that Ukraine, through its strikes on Russian oil infrastructure, has deprived Moscow of the opportunity to capitalise on rising global oil prices. The Russian economy has come under pressure from several factors simultaneously, some of which are the result of the Kremlin’s own suboptimal policies.

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