Putin's war machine is now built into the Russian economy

Even if the guns fall silent in Ukraine, Russia’s economy may never step off the battlefield.

- BLOOMBERG

Years of defence spending have locked the country into militarisation, transforming factories and drawing in hundreds of thousands of workers. The surge has helped prevent contraction, making any retreat perilous.

The Kremlin shows no sign of pulling back. President Vladimir Putin sees a lasting need fora powerful fighting force — something Western leaders fear could be directed at Nato in five years — and is embedding the defence industry into his long-term vision. For him, the defence sector is not just a wartime necessity but a central pillar of economic planning.