Russian economic growth was close to zero in the third quarter, the state statistics agency said Friday, as the costs of the Ukraine war and Western sanctions start to bite.
Bloated military spending had initially supported the Russian economy for two years after it sent troops to Ukraine. But it also spurred inflation, which now weighs on growth, as the civilian sector struggles with high borrowing costs.
"The gross domestic product (GDP) in the third quarter of 2025 amounted to 100.6%, relative to the same period of 2024, according to preliminary estimates," said statistics agency Rosstat.
That is significantly lower than in the previous quarter, when GDP rose by 1.1%.
The figure was in line with the Russian Central Bank's lowered annual forecast of 0.5 to 1%, however.
The regulator also expected that the stubbornly high inflation rate, still running at about 8%, would keep interest rates higher for longer.
Businesses have railed against the high borrowing costs, which they say are sapping growth and holding the economy back.
This has also stretched Russia's public finances. The Kremlin is looking to tap the pockets of citizens and businesses to plug a budget gap running at around $50 billion so far this year.
Russia's finance ministry has proposed raising the value-added tax (VAT) to 22% from 20% next year.
Lower oil prices were also a headache for the budget, fossils bringing almost a fifth of the budget revenues.
Last month, the United States unveiled some of the harshest measures yet on Russia's energy sector, sanctioning its two biggest oil producers, Rosneft and Lukoil, in an attempt to force Moscow to end the war in Ukraine.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
