German Intelligence: Russia Masks Gigantic Military Spending from Its Own Society

The latest reports from German intelligence shed new light on the financial condition of the Russian Federation after four years of full-scale warfare. According to BND analysts, Moscow systematically conceals the actual level of military spending by using complex budget shifts between civilian and defense ministries. Official statistics, indicating the resilience of the Russian economy, are largely the result of switching to a war production mode, which masks a deep crisis in sectors unrelated to the military. The growing costs of maintaining occupied territories and payments to the families of fallen soldiers are becoming an increasingly difficult political burden for the Kremlin, forcing the authorities to further isolate society from information. Since the public finance reform in 2016, Russia has gradually classified successive parts of its budget, which after the 2022 invasion became a standard tool for managing public perception and concealing the scale of material losses. On the front, a slowdown in the pace of Russian advances is observed, which may indicate the need to regroup forces or growing logistical problems. Nevertheless, General Oleksandr Syrskyi warns of the aggressor's new tactic involving the mass use of modified Shahed drones, which have become harder to detect by Ukrainian air defense. In response, Ukraine has intensified attacks on Russian fuel infrastructure, striking seaports and warships, which is intended to directly undermine Moscow's ability to finance further operations. President Zelenskyy, holding talks with the leaders of the UAE and Qatar, is building a narrative about a common threat from the Moscow-Tehran axis, offering Arab partners access to unique battlefield data. „If we give up Donbas now, Putin will not stop until he comes for our children in other parts of Europe.” — Volodymyr Zelenskyy The diplomatic situation remains tense due to sharp statements from Donald Trump, who blames the current U.S. administration for the "stupid war" and an alleged lack of ammunition reserves in American warehouses. In Kyiv, these words are interpreted as a signal of the need for even greater self-reliance of the Ukrainian defense industry. Domestically, Zelenskyy cut short speculation about his political retirement, declaring his desire to seek re-election after the lifting of martial law. At the same time, Ukraine distances itself from proposals for negotiations in Austria, believing that any talks without the withdrawal of occupation troops would be tantamount to capitulation. 1470 dni — full-scale Russian aggression against Ukraine has already lasted