Mounting economic hardship and growing public discontent could push Russia toward internal conflict, a senior Kremlin official has warned.
The stark message comes as inflation, war fatigue, and social divisions deepen across the country.
Alexander Kharichev, head of the Presidential Directorate for Monitoring and Analysing Social Processes, issued the warning in a state-run journal.
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Military over social spending
Rising prices have hit ordinary Russians hard, with food costs climbing well above the national inflation rate. Businesses are struggling to stay afloat, and layoffs and bankruptcies loom large.
Despite the pressure, the Kremlin continues to prioritize military spending over social welfare.
At the same time, Russia’s workforce has been decimated by more than a million war casualties, mostly men of working age, worsening the long-term demographic decline and ageing population.
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Kharichev warned of “fragmentation of society” and the “loss of Russia’s ability to fight for its survival.”
His analysis cited the growing erosion of public trust in government and widening rifts within Russian society.
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Full throated support for SMO necessity. Russia has moved up to 4th largest PPP GDP in world. Extremely high employment rate at high pay. The threat highlight is less about any impending collapse, but a call for greater centralization. Russia will have a difficult transition to peace after victory, and it’s possible that this is a call to maintain the economic pluralism created by the SMO.
Not the brag you think it is. Russian PPP GDP in 4th place is 1/6th of China and less than 1/4th the US.
Victory… smh. I’m sure that’s what RT will say despite massive losses in people and materiel and nothing to show for it.
They passed Germany and Japan since 2022. Weekly progress in SMO is constant and accelerating.
Wartime economies tend to have high employment rates. How are the non-military sectors doing?
Private employment is very well paid, because military pay is so high. Inflation in Russia is led by wages.