Pravda.ru / Russia

Russia is expanding access to its remote regions by modernizing its aviation infrastructure. Of the country's 226 civil airfields, at least 75 are scheduled for reconstruction by 2030. For travelers, these upgrades translate to increased flight frequencies and lower ticket prices, as updated runways can accommodate larger, more modern aircraft. The impact is already visible in cities like Orenburg, where airport upgrades have nearly tripled passenger capacity, making the region's steppes more accessible. Remote Destinations: Siberia and the Far East Current efforts are heavily concentrated in Siberia and the Far East, where fast-track terminal construction is being used to replace deteriorating infrastructure. This reduces the logistical difficulty and high costs previously associated with visiting these areas.

Russia has transferred some of the largest European retail chains and industrial assets under external management, while retaining a lever of pressure on the West through the threat of full nationalization. Major Western retailers will no longer control their businesses in Russia In September, Russia placed the assets of French retailer Auchan, German Metro Cash & Carry, Swiss company Nestlé and US distribution group Aptar under external management. Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov directly linked the measures to the actions of European states. The Kremlin said Germany, France and other EU countries were "actively involved in military operations" against Russia by supporting Ukraine and approving strikes on Russian economic infrastructure. The introduction of external management has been presented as a reciprocal response to the seizure of Russian state and private assets in the West.

The Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade plans to reduce the cost of the MC-21 medium-haul airliner, which currently stands at 7.5 billion rubles. The goal is to lower the price by several billion rubles in constant prices to ensure the aircraft is financially attractive to airlines by the time mass deliveries begin. Minister Anton Alikhanov stated that the price reduction will be achieved without compromising quality or reliability. The strategy involves optimizing internal processes within the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) and diversifying the supply chain by engaging alternative second- and third-tier suppliers. This repricing effort will cover the entire value chain, from raw material procurement to final assembly. Economist Artem Loginov told Pravda. Ru that while the state covers initial development costs, the aircraft must eventually be sustainable through market mechanisms and strict component cost control to compete with global manufacturers.

Russia has revised its oil export forecasts upward, projecting shipments to reach 244.7 million tons by 2026. This updated macroeconomic forecast from the Ministry of Economic Development indicates a recovery in export volumes despite international pressure and existing agreements. The new figures, reviewed by the cabinet on September 24, show an increase of 7.5 million tons compared to previous estimates for 2026. For context, the ministry expects 230.8 million tons in 2025. Macroeconomist Artem Loginov told Pravda. Ru that this upward revision suggests infrastructure constraints are easing and discounts on Russian grades have stabilized, allowing companies to plan shipments more accurately. The shift in volume is closely tied to the redirection of flows toward India and China and the expansion of port capacities in the East.

Russia's projected budget deficit for 2027 is expected to reach approximately 2% of GDP, according to President Vladimir Putin. This figure marks an increase from the 1.2% of GDP outlined in the current law. To address the growing fiscal pressure, the Ministry of Finance has increased activity in the domestic market, recently issuing new bonds to raise capital. Financial analyst and PhD in Economics Mikhail Belyayev told Pravda.Ru that while a 2% deficit is not inherently critical, the primary risk lies in sluggish economic growth, which limits the state's ability to meet its obligations. Belyayev characterized the deficit as a loan from the future that must be covered through tax revenues, the privatization of assets, or income from unitary enterprises. The analyst noted that securing these reserves is difficult given a projected economic growth rate of just 0.5–1%. Belyayev attributed this stagnation to the Central Bank's restrictive monetary policy.

Russia has undergone a profound transformation in the structure of its economy over the past five years. The shift accelerated under unprecedented Western sanctions, forcing the country to rely increasingly on its own domestic market, investment resources and technological capabilities. Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said the Russian economy had successfully absorbed the sanctions shock while undergoing a major change in the sources of GDP growth. Net exports, once a much more important contributor, now account for almost three times less of the growth structure. Domestic demand has taken their place as one of the economy's principal engines. The transformation has also strengthened Russia's position in global economic rankings. Measured by purchasing power parity, the country now ranks fourth in the world, behind China, the United States and India. Moscow is now preparing the next stage of the transformation, with investment, technology, productivity and domestic demand at its center.

On September 1, the Bank of Russia will put the digital ruble into circulation, making it available to every Russian in the autumn. The color of its logo is already known, along with details of how the new form of the national currency will work. What Is the Digital Ruble? As Alla Bakina, director of the Bank of Russia's National Payment System Department, explained to RIA Novosti, the digital ruble is the same ruble that people use in everyday life, only in a new form. "The digital ruble is essentially the same as a cashless ruble, only it will be held in the user's wallet on the Bank of Russia's platform. People have different habits. Some are accustomed to using cards, others use electronic wallets, while others use payment services and so on. The digital ruble is another additional means of making transfers and payments,” Bakina said.

President Vladimir Putin has ordered the reconstruction of damaged facilities at a fundamentally new technological level. Over the past month, Wildberries logistics facilities in several Russian regions have come under drone attacks. Putin instructed the government to introduce a programme for reconstructing damaged warehouses, stressing the need to modernise and substantially upgrade them. His remarks were reported by the Kremlin press service. "Logistics and warehouse capacity, of course, needs to be restored, including with state participation. In this regard, I ask the government to adopt an appropriate programme. At the same time, it is necessary to ensure that damaged facilities are restored at a fundamentally new technological level,” the president said at a meeting of the Council for Strategic Development and National Projects devoted to implementing the plan for structural changes in the Russian economy through 2030.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russians possess a “genetic code of winners” during a meeting with Sakhalin Region Governor Valery Limarenko, who briefed the president on support measures for participants in the special military operation and their families. Limarenko said he sees among the people a determination to do “everything for victory.” “That is what our people are like. They have the genetic code of winners.”

The Board of Directors of the Bank of Russia voted at its July 24 meeting to lower the key interest rate by 25 basis points to 14%, according to the regulator's official statement. This marks the tenth consecutive meeting at which the central bank has eased monetary policy. Over the past two meetings, however, the pace of easing has slowed to 25 basis points, compared with previous reductions of 50 basis points. The central bank said Russia's economy expanded at a moderate pace during the second quarter of 2026. "Significant price growth and higher inflation expectations during the summer months were largely driven by one-off factors. Estimates of underlying inflation remain within the range of 4–5% on an annualized basis. Credit growth slowed slightly in June," the regulator said in its statement.

Russian President Vladimir Putin accepted the resignation of Belgorod Region Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov, who stepped down voluntarily after leading one of Russia's most heavily pressured border regions during the conflict with Ukraine. The Kremlin appointed Alexander Shuvaev as acting governor of Belgorod Region. Putin held a working meeting with Shuvaev in the Kremlin shortly after the appointment became official. Earlier, sources close to the presidential administration and regional authorities told RBC that Shuvaev, a vice governor of Irkutsk Region and a decorated military officer, stood as the leading candidate for the post. A Military Officer Takes Charge of Belgorod Alexander Shuvaev was born in Belgorod Region in 1981. He graduated from the Ryazan Airborne Forces Institute and later from the Combined Arms Academy of the Russian Armed Forces.

Russia's oil and gas revenues fell sharply in January-April 2026, according to data released by the Russian Finance Ministry. Compared with the same period last year, revenues from oil and gas exports dropped by more than one-third — down 38.3% to 2.298 trillion rubles. The ministry attributed the decline primarily to lower global oil prices. At the same time, non-oil-and-gas revenues increased by 10.2% to 9.423 trillion rubles. The Finance Ministry expects the federal budget to receive 8.919 trillion rubles in oil-and-gas revenues and 31.365 trillion rubles in non-energy revenues over the course of 2026.

Moscow is preparing for the 81st anniversary of Victory Day. On May 9, 2026, Red Square will host a military parade that reflects current geopolitical realities. The event will serve not only as a ceremony but also as a demonstration of the country's human resources and military readiness under ongoing external pressure. This year, organizers have adjusted the format. Instead of emphasizing heavy military hardware, the parade will highlight personnel actively engaged in military service. Marching Units: Who Will Take Part Officers and cadets from higher military educational institutions will form the core of the marching columns. Representatives from all branches and specialized units of the Russian Armed Forces will participate.

President of Russia Vladimir Putin, during a meeting with government members, spoke about the development of Russia’s Arctic regions, emphasizing the strategic importance of the region. Strategic Importance of the Arctic “I have repeatedly noted the special, strategic importance of this region for our country, for the national economy, for increasing Russia’s industrial potential, for ensuring national security and protecting our sovereignty,” Putin said. He stressed that the role of the Arctic is also growing globally: “For the planet’s ecology, for global fuel, energy, and raw material complexes, and for strengthening the stability of international trade and logistics links.”

Press Secretary of the President of Russia Dmitry Peskov commented on the appeal of blogger Victoria Bonya to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Peskov stated that the Kremlin had seen Bonya's video and emphasized that it had indeed attracted attention and become popular. Kremlin Acknowledges Resonant Issues The presidential spokesperson also added that the blogger touched on highly resonant topics in her video.

Russia's economy resembles an overheated engine into which cheap lemonade has been poured instead of oil. The indicators on the dashboard are going wild: annual data released by Fedresurs carries a chill reminiscent of Arctic winds. In 2025, the army of bankrupt citizens grew by 568,000 people. This is not just a number. It is the population of an entire regional center that has officially declared its financial insolvency. A growth of 31.5% is not evolution — it is the fall of a climber whose safety rope has snapped.

Russia could achieve digital sovereignty and build an internet capable of operating independently from the global network by 2028, according to a forecast by the Russian Association for Electronic Communications (RAEC). The forecast suggests that by the end of the decade the Russian segment of the internet — commonly known as the Runet - may function even without access to foreign infrastructure, while domestic technologies replace key foreign platforms. Smart Runet by 2030 According to RAEC, Russia could reach full digital sovereignty by 2028 and approach almost complete technological independence in key sectors by 2030.

Russia's Ministry of Finance has proposed legalizing online casinos, a move that could fundamentally reshape the country's gambling industry and bring significant new revenue into the federal budget. The initiative came from Finance Minister Anton Siluanov, who suggested that President Vladimir Putin consider lifting the current ban under strict state supervision. Strict Conditions for Legalization The Ministry of Finance proposes removing the ban on online casinos only if several conditions are met. The plan calls for the creation of a special operator by presidential decree, as well as a centralized system for accepting bets through the Unified Betting Transfer Accounting Center, modeled on the existing framework used by bookmakers. The proposal also includes a minimum tax rate of 30 percent on casino revenue, calculated after winnings are paid out. Operators would transfer this tax to the state budget on a monthly basis. Participation would be limited to players aged 21 and older.

Claims circulating in various media outlets that Russia has betrayed Syria, Iran, and Venezuela do not withstand serious scrutiny. They overlook both historical lessons and the evolving realities of global politics. One-Sided 'International Duty' No Longer Works Ideally, Russia's relations with other countries should be structured so that economic and political ties remain stable regardless of changes in government. Ideological motivations, including anti-Western solidarity, still matter, but they are no longer decisive. Russia is moving away from the mindset that once justified the fulfillment of a one-sided "international duty,” as seen in Afghanistan and Angola. To a large extent, it was precisely the costly support of allied states during periods of falling oil revenues that exhausted the Soviet economy and contributed to its collapse. Priorities were misjudged, and debts owed by former "brotherly” capitals were almost never repaid, with rare exceptions such as India, Turkey, Jordan, and the UAE.

The Russian ruble has posted an unprecedented surge over the past twelve months, becoming the fastest-strengthening national currency since the mid-1990s. In 2025, it has outperformed major global currencies against the US dollar, according to Bloomberg. The ruble has ranked among the world’s five most profitable assets, trailing only precious metals—platinum, silver, palladium, and gold. Since the beginning of the year, the currency has appreciated by approximately 45 percent, with exchange rates stabilizing near 78 rubles per dollar. This strengthening reflects the combined impact of domestic macroeconomic factors rather than short-term speculative movements.