In a shocking economic maneuver, the Kremlin is resorting to aggressive money printing as Russia’s war funding crisis deepens. With the war in Ukraine straining the nation’s finances, President Vladimir Putin’s administration is flooding the economy with new rubles to fill budget gaps and sustain military operations, a strategy that history shows leads to chaos.

As inflation soars, the official rate is projected to reach 8.4% in 2024, with forecasts suggesting a grim rise to double digits by 2025. Ordinary Russians are already feeling the pinch, facing skyrocketing prices for essentials like food and rent. The economic landscape is increasingly grim, characterized by labor shortages exacerbated by the war and demographic challenges. Companies are forced to hike wages to retain dwindling talent, further fueling inflation.

The Kremlin’s financial tactics, likened to those of Zimbabwe and Venezuela, include both the invisible printing press—where banks buy government bonds using cheap liquidity—and the physical printing of new currency. This reckless approach is eroding the National Welfare Fund, which has dwindled to just $50 billion in liquid assets, leaving the economy vulnerable to shocks.

As military spending balloons to approximately $140 billion, the Russian economy is locked in a cycle of permanent deficit. High interest rates, now hovering around 20%, are failing to curb inflation due to unrelenting government spending. The financial system is on the brink of collapse, with banks facing increasing pressure from rising loan repayments and shrinking cash flows.

The Kremlin’s grip on information is tightening, obscuring the true state of the economy as public trust wanes. The potential for a banking crisis looms large, with fears that a sudden loss of confidence could trigger a panic reminiscent of 2022. The stakes are high, not just for Russia but for the global economy, as energy prices could spike and supply chains face disruption.

As the situation escalates, the world watches closely. The Kremlin’s short-sighted strategy may offer temporary relief but risks plunging the nation into deeper economic turmoil. The question remains: how long can this dangerous game continue before it all unravels?