Russia has paid out an estimated £47.4 billion in federal death benefits to families of 352,000 soldiers killed in Ukraine, according to the Financial Times, as the war now exceeds the duration of World War I. Each confirmed death triggers a 14 million ruble (£134,000) payout, totaling 4.998 trillion rubles, excluding compensation for injured troops.
Financial Toll on Russia's Economy
The staggering sum comes as Ukraine's strikes on Russian oil refineries cause fuel shortages, with petrol stations in Moscow and occupied Crimea rationing sales to 20 litres per vehicle. President Vladimir Putin acknowledged the issue, stating the attacks were causing a "certain shortage." In a meeting, he said: "You're well aware that problems persist for both motorists and businesses. Unfortunately, there are still queues at petrol stations, and finding the right grade of petrol isn't always easy."
Frontline Casualties and Drone Warfare
Russian military bloggers report that the average life expectancy of a new Russian fighter on the frontline is 20 to 35 minutes, driven by Ukrainian drone technology and effective kill zones, according to Foreign Policy. The high death rate exacerbates the financial burden on the Kremlin.
Zelenskyy's Response
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy commented on the strikes on June 28, posting on Twitter/X: "We continue our operations that weaken Russia’s ability to wage this war. Each of our long-range sanctions means fewer resources serving Russia’s war machine, and another step toward peace."
Broader Economic Impact
The war has devastated both nations, with hundreds of thousands of military and civilian casualties and billions in infrastructure damage. Despite initial hopes for a peace deal after Donald Trump's warmer approach to Russia, fighting continues, and Putin shows no signs of seeking peace.
