Russia’s war budget war exceeds public claims, says German intelligence

Russia’s actual military expenditures last year far exceeded the amounts officially reported. Real spending was approximately 66% higher than the figures presented by Moscow, Spiegel reports.

The intelligence service noted that several major expenditures were excluded from official defence budgets and instead allocated to other budgetary categories. These included construction projects for the Ministry of Defence, military IT programs, and social benefits for service personnel.

“Information on defence spending provided by official Russian sources is often presented in a distorted manner,” Germany’s Federal Intelligence Service (BND) stated.

Since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, its defence budget has grown sharply each year. According to BND estimates, military spending in 2025 reached around €250 billion, equivalent to roughly 10% of the country’s GDP. By comparison, defence outlays accounted for 6% of GDP in 2022, rising to 6.7% in 2023 and 8.5% in 2024.

“These figures underscore the escalating threat that Russia poses to Europe,” the BND emphasized.

The intelligence agency also highlighted that the increased funds are not solely directed toward operations in Ukraine but are being used to build and expand Russia’s broader military capabilities, particularly near NATO’s eastern flank.

By Vafa Guliyeva