"Putin's War Economy Teeters as Moscow's 'Del Boys' Emerge"

Russia's economy is under strain as President Vladimir Putin commits to unprecedented defense spending, allocating over 6% of GDP to the military, which is expected to impact public sectors like welfare and healthcare. Despite predictions of economic collapse, Russia has managed to outperform expectations due to higher oil prices and trade shifts to countries like China and India. However, the economy faces challenges such as high inflation, a demographic crisis, and a potential long-term stagnation due to a lack of investment and diversification, exacerbated by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and Western sanctions.