More than half of Russia’s regions entered 2026 with a budget deficit. Over the four years of the war, their number has increased nearly tenfold.
According to the results of the first quarter of 2026, 56 out of 83 regions of the Russian Federation were “in the red.” By comparison, at the start of the large-scale invasion in 2022, there were only six such regions. This was reported by the Center for Countering Disinformation.
The budget crisis has reached even the most remote corners of Russia. The situation is most dire in the Jewish Autonomous Region, Kuzbass, the Vologda Region, and the Republic of Komi.
The reason is simple: by pouring enormous resources into the war, the Kremlin has drastically cut support for the regions from the central budget, while shifting the additional financial burden onto regional authorities. Russian regions must now cover defense needs at their own expense, pay millions in “death benefits” and “mobilization allowances” to those called up, and fund projects in the temporarily occupied territories.
Residents of rural Russia are already paying for the Kremlin’s imperial ambitions with their quality of life. To make ends meet, regions are massively cutting spending on road repairs, education, healthcare, and other civilian programs. This will inevitably lead to a severe deterioration of infrastructure and social services throughout Russia.