Russia Set for Record Military Spending in 2026

Russia is on course to record its highest military spending in modern history in 2026 after President Vladimir Putin approved a major increase in funding for the war in Ukraine.

The spending rise reflects a growing conviction in the Kremlin that the conflict is likely to continue and could escalate in the coming years.

By expanding war allocations, Moscow is signalling preparations for a prolonged confrontation rather than a rapid end to the fighting.

The planned record marks a further deepening of Russia’s financial commitment to the war. The scale of that commitment places military spending at the centre of the country’s outlook for 2026.