The average budget for celebrating New Year 2026 in Russia is about 14,000 rubles, which is almost half of what Russians planned to spend on celebrating 2025. This is due to rising inflation and increasing food prices, which leads to savings and reduced spending on celebrations.
The Russian economy is facing growing difficulties, including inflation and declining revenues, but this will not bring Putin to the negotiating table. Experts believe that the Kremlin can sustain the current pace of hostilities for many more years, as the Russian economy is not a critical factor for ending the war.
The number of citizens' appeals regarding violations of labor rights in Russia exceeded 70,000, which is 50% more than last year. Wage arrears reached 2.2 billion rubles, which is the highest level since August 2020.
The Cabinet of Ministers has not yet approved the procedure for obtaining a certificate for 150,000 hryvnias for the purchase of a vehicle for military personnel, as provided for by the law on strengthening mobilization. The Ministry of Finance has developed a draft resolution, which is processing comments from interested bodies.
The Pan-African Association of Teachers of Russian Language and Literature was founded in Cairo, coinciding with the intensification of Russian information operations in Africa. Russia is creating structures to promote the Russian language and ideology, using mercenary formations.
Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service reports that control over Russia's near-Arctic reserves of rare earth elements, oil, and gas is now concentrated in the hands of three key figures. These are Sergey Kiriyenko, Igor Sechin, and Kirill Dmitriev, who control the Northern Sea Route and key deposits.
The head of the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine, Oleh Ivashchenko, reported that Russia intends to increase the serial production of the Oreshnik ballistic missile and modernize its warhead. More than 50 enterprises of the Russian military-industrial complex are involved in the production of the missile, and funding is provided by the Russian National Welfare Fund.
The volume of "oil on water" is growing, reaching 180 million barrels, and export revenues are decreasing due to lower prices for Russian oil grades.
The Russian Embassy in Iran stated that letters offering to recruit Iranians for the war in Ukraine are being sent by malicious actors. The advertisement promises $20,000 for signing a contract and a monthly salary of $2,000.
China is consolidating its dominance in Mongolian exports by increasing coal purchases and financing logistics routes. Russia's share in Ulaanbaatar's exports has decreased to 0.5%, while over 90% of Mongolian exports go to China.
The Verkhovna Rada adopted a bill that removes Russian and Moldovan languages from the list of languages protected by the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. This prevents political manipulation and undermining the status of the Ukrainian language.
Vladimir Putin signed the state national policy strategy until 2036, which provides for the formation of a homogeneous civic identity and the integration of occupied Ukrainian territories. The document is aimed at large-scale Russification and the elimination of Ukrainian national consciousness.
Russia's international reserves fell by $5. 0 billion in a week, and Russian companies' losses sharply increased in 2025. The share of unprofitable coal enterprises reached 68.1%, and passenger car production decreased by 46.7%.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has dismissed Volodymyr Tolkach from the post of Ukraine's Ambassador to Serbia. Oleksandr Lytvynenko, who previously headed the Foreign Intelligence Service and served as Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC), has been appointed to this position.
The sanctions coalition imposed restrictions on over 500 entities in Russia's energy sector, including oil tankers and financial institutions. This led to a decrease in the price of Russian oil and a reduction in its exports, forecasting significant losses for the Russian budget.
Ukrainian intelligence reports that Russia is facing a significant increase in the cost of gasoline and diesel fuel due to a change in the pricing mechanism. The government plans to abandon the link to inflation, switching to a composite index that takes into account a wider set of factors.
Surveys show a worsening financial situation for Russians, with only 8% reporting an increase in wealth, while 23% report a deterioration. Only 24% hope for an improvement in their financial situation in the coming year.
Russia plans to significantly increase fines for 36 types of economic offenses, including illegal entrepreneurship and tax evasion, to replenish the budget. Fines will increase several times, reaching up to $61.5 thousand for significant damages from tax evasion.
Belarus acknowledges a deficit in foreign exchange reserves to cover debt payments in 2026, with only $5. 3 billion available for operational payments out of $13.7 billion on paper. The Ministry of Finance plans to attract additional resources from Russia to cover the deficit.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting with the heads of the defense and security sector. The situation at the front, Russia's plans, and the internal situation in Russia were discussed.
In 2025, trade between Russia and China decreased by 9. 4% to $163.6 billion. This strengthens the Russian economy's dependence on Beijing due to energy and metal exports.
The Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine reported an increase in recessionary trends in the Russian economy, with a noticeable deterioration in the manufacturing industry. In the first three quarters of 2025, a decrease in production volumes was recorded in 70% of the main types of economic activity.
In October, 15. 97 million tons of oil were exported from Russian ports by 140 tankers, 84 of which belong to the "shadow fleet". The main destinations for supplies were India, China, and Turkey.
According to the intelligence report, for the first time since the beginning of the war, a noticeable decrease in Russian oil production and refining has been recorded. By the end of the year, Russia will lose at least $37 billion in budget oil and gas revenues.
The planned increase in VAT in Russia to 22% from 2026 will not provide the expected revenues, but on the contrary, will lead to a decrease in revenues by 6. 1 billion US dollars. This will increase inflationary pressure, reduce domestic demand, and increase the cost of government borrowing.
The President of Ukraine dismissed Serhiy Demediuk and Andriy Kononenko from their positions as Deputy Secretaries of the National Security and Defense Council. Demediuk had held the position since October 2019, and Kononenko since April 2024.
This indicates a sharp decline in scientific literacy and a rise in belief in pseudoscience, noted the Ukrainian foreign intelligence.
The Russian authorities are preparing the population for a sharp deterioration in living standards due to a record budget deficit, which will reach 5. 74 trillion rubles in 2025. The Kremlin plans to raise taxes, cut social programs, and shift responsibility for unpopular decisions to governors and senators.
38. 9% of enterprises reported payment delays, 34% recorded a decrease in demand, and 32.4% experienced a shortage of working capital.
Firewood prices have almost doubled, queues have stretched for months, and local authorities are only promising symbolic compensation.
