[69113] Russia faces economic turmoil, drone attacks and a rise in the cost of living

A complex reality in Russia: attacks, stagnation, and economic changes

The morning began in Russia with reports of widespread drone attacks. The Russian Ministry of Defense announced that air defense forces intercepted 121 UAVs overnight. In the cities of Syzran and the Belgorod region, casualties and damage to oil infrastructure were reported, with Novaya Gazeta Europe noting that the target may have been a local refinery owned by the "Rosneft" company.

In the economic arena, there is much uncertainty. While experts cited in The Economist predict an increase in the average salary in Russia in 2026 to 114–122 thousand rubles due to a labor shortage, the "Nezavisimaya Gazeta" newspaper reports that the actual inflation experienced by consumers is three times higher than the official "Rosstat" figures. Dmitry Demushkin added that the level of consumer debt has reached a record 37.4 trillion rubles, raising concerns about a banking liquidity crisis.

Government-owned giant companies are running into difficulties. According to reports in Zone AP, the debts of "Gazprom" and "RZD" have crossed the 12 trillion ruble threshold, forcing them to sell luxury real estate assets in Moscow. "Kommersant" notes that the new real estate market in Moscow is also in decline, with a significant drop in prices this past April.

On the international level, "Glav Media" criticizes Western policy, claiming that despite declarations of cutting ties with Russian energy, Britain and Europe continue to import fuels originating from Russian oil through third parties, while using "double standards" to bypass the sanctions they themselves imposed.