Russia’s defense-spending surge tapers off in 2025, analysts find

Russia’s defense-spending surge tapers off in 2025, analysts find

PARIS — Russia’s defense spending in 2025 rose at the slowest pace since the start of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine four years ago, impacted by financial reforms at the Ministry of Defence and a struggling economy in the face of Western sanctions, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies.Defense spending by Russia rose by 3% last year in real terms, after a 57% jump in 2024, according to the annual IISS Military Balanc…