Russia Plans to Increase Military Spending by a Third in 2027

Russia plans to spend RUB 17.1 trillion on defense in 2027 — about $202.6 billion at the current exchange rate.

Reuters reported this, citing the draft Russian federal budget.

The new figure is about 27% higher than the $159.9 billion the Russian authorities previously planned to allocate for “national defense” in 2027. Compared with the RUB 12.93 trillion allocated in the 2026 budget, military spending will increase by 32.2%.

According to documents the agency reviewed, Russia’s total defense spending over the next three years is expected to amount to about $592.4 billion.

For 2026, the Russian government initially budgeted $143.4 billion for defense spending. However, the actual amount is classified, and some military expenditures may be included under other federal budget items.

According to calculations by Janis Kluge, a researcher at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, Russian military spending reached approximately $126.8 billion in the first half of 2026 alone — 30% more than during the same period in 2025.

Militarnyi previously reported that Russia’s 2025 budget allocated $159.9 billion for “national defense” and another $41.5 billion for “national security.” By the end of 2025, Russia ranked third in the world in military spending, at about $190 billion. Spending increased by 5.9% over the year and by 96% compared with 2016.