"Russia's Wealth Fund Depletion: Moscow Expends 44% of Liquid Assets"
Russia's national wealth fund has seen a 44% decrease in liquid assets since the invasion of Ukraine, with total holdings falling 12% over the same period. The country's finance ministry used around 3 trillion rubles from the fund to cover its budget deficit in 2023, and the fund's liquid assets could last just another year or two if Russia's oil export price falls below $50 a barrel, according to Bloomberg Economics. The decline in liquid assets comes as Russia faces Western sanctions and weak international oil prices, making it increasingly vulnerable to economic shocks.