Russian President Vladimir Putin has approved a budget plan that will increase military spending to record levels by 2025, as Moscow seeks to gain an advantage in the ongoing war in Ukraine. The budget, which allocates 32.5% of funds for national defense, totaling 13.5 trillion rubles (over $145 billion), has been approved by lawmakers in both houses of the Russian parliament.
The conflict in Ukraine, which has been ongoing since February 2022, is draining resources on both sides. While Kyiv has received support from Western allies, Russian forces are larger and better equipped, and have been making advances in eastern Ukraine. New European Council President Antonio Costa and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas recently visited Kyiv to show support for Ukraine.
On the ground in Ukraine, casualties continue to rise as a result of Russian drone attacks. In Kherson, three people were killed and seven wounded in a drone strike on a minibus, while in Dnipro, a missile strike left 24 people wounded and four dead. Ukrainian officials reported that 78 Russian drones were sent into Ukraine, with 32 destroyed and 45 likely jammed.
In retaliation, a child was killed in a Ukrainian drone attack in Russia’s Bryansk region. Russia’s Defense Ministry stated that 29 Ukrainian drones were shot down in western Russia overnight, with the most activity reported in the Bryansk region. The conflict between Russia and Ukraine shows no signs of abating, with both sides continuing to escalate their military actions.
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