Cross-posted from: https://feddit.de/post/9438338
Military pay, ammunition, tanks, planes, and compensation for dead and wounded soldiers, all contribute to the GDP figures. Put simply, the war against Ukraine is now the main driver of Russia’s economic growth.
And it is a war that Russia cannot afford to win. The cost of rebuilding and maintaining security in a conquered Ukraine would be too great, and an isolated Russia could at best hope to become a junior partner entirely dependent on China.
Russia can’t even handle their war against Ukraine. Even if NATO maintains their status quo (which they aren’t as pretty much NATO member is ramping up defense spending) Russia wouldn’t be able to do much in a conventional war. But it wouldn’t stay a conventional war for long, as nukes would quickly start flying.