April 04, 2024

Russia's War Economy


Russia's War Economy
A Russian government building. Moscowjobnet, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Soon after the beginning of Russia's War on Ukraine, economists around the world began to speculate that the Russian economy would crash. These predictions were counterbalanced by claims from Russian economists that Russian industry would, in fact, greatly benefit from the war. While the economy did not crash, seeing only a 2.1% economic decline in 2022, the effects of the war have nonetheless been noticeable, especially in industrial regions. 

Economic geographer Natalya Zubarevich found that the regions that have benefited most from the war have been, unsurprisingly, areas where high percentages of the local economy are tied to the military-industrial complex. These include Tula, Ryazan, Yaroslavl, Tver, Penza, Sverdlovsk, Chelyabinsk, and Omsk regions, where there was higher demand and higher salaries for factory workers in 2022 than there was in 2021. But do these combined factors mean better lives for workers in these regions?

A report from Cherta found that the higher salaries advertised for factory jobs are tied to heavier-than-usual workloads or long shifts. Employees at these companies describe longer hours and high demand, but no change in salary or benefits. Long-time factory workers complain of under-educated and under-trained new employees being brought in to speed up production, leading to an actual increase in work for more experienced workers. 

While it may be true that industries in these regions are doing better business than before the war, it is evident that the workers themselves bear the negative consequences of this success. 

You Might Also Like

Occupation Is Expensive
  • December 03, 2023

Occupation Is Expensive

An independent Russian news outlet reported that Russia is worse off economically because of its actions in Ukraine since 2013.
600 Days of War
  • October 16, 2023

600 Days of War

Russia's War on Ukraine has been going on for 600 days. Some Facts & Figures.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

Woe From Wit (bilingual)
June 20, 2017

Woe From Wit (bilingual)

One of the most famous works of Russian literature, the four-act comedy in verse Woe from Wit skewers staid, nineteenth century Russian society, and it positively teems with “winged phrases” that are essential colloquialisms for students of Russian and Russian culture.

Russian Rules
November 16, 2011

Russian Rules

From the shores of the White Sea to Moscow and the Northern Caucasus, Russian Rules is a high-speed thriller based on actual events, terrifying possibilities, and some really stupid decisions.

A Taste of Russia
November 01, 2012

A Taste of Russia

The definitive modern cookbook on Russian cuisine has been totally updated and redesigned in a 30th Anniversary Edition. Layering superbly researched recipes with informative essays on the dishes' rich historical and cultural context, A Taste of Russia includes over 200 recipes on everything from borshch to blini, from Salmon Coulibiac to Beef Stew with Rum, from Marinated Mushrooms to Walnut-honey Filled Pies. A Taste of Russia shows off the best that Russian cooking has to offer. Full of great quotes from Russian literature about Russian food and designed in a convenient wide format that stays open during use.

White Magic
June 01, 2021

White Magic

The thirteen tales in this volume – all written by Russian émigrés, writers who fled their native country in the early twentieth century – contain a fair dose of magic and mysticism, of terror and the supernatural. There are Petersburg revenants, grief-stricken avengers, Lithuanian vampires, flying skeletons, murders and duels, and even a ghostly Edgar Allen Poe.

The Little Humpbacked Horse
November 03, 2014

The Little Humpbacked Horse

A beloved Russian classic about a resourceful Russian peasant, Vanya, and his miracle-working horse, who together undergo various trials, exploits and adventures at the whim of a laughable tsar, told in rich, narrative poetry.

The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas
October 01, 2013

The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas

This exciting new trilogy by a Russian author – who has been compared to Orhan Pamuk and Umberto Eco – vividly recreates a lost world, yet its passions and characters are entirely relevant to the present day. Full of mystery, memorable characters, and non-stop adventure, The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas is a must read for lovers of historical fiction and international thrillers.

 
How Russia Got That Way
September 20, 2025

How Russia Got That Way

A fast-paced crash course in Russian history, from Norsemen to Navalny, that explores the ways the Kremlin uses history to achieve its ends.

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955