Over the two years since the onset of military escalation in Ukraine, Western countries have imposed a significant number of sanctions against Russia. However, their effectiveness is at least debatable. On one hand, Russia has successfully adapted to the new restrictions, evidenced by the growth of its economy. On the other hand, the costs of…
Two Scenarios of Russian Export Dynamics
The Central Bank of Russia has presented two primary scenarios for the future development of Russian exports, which are currently contracting. One scenario involves the revival of exports, while the other entails a shift towards the domestic market. Experts believe that a combination of these scenarios will likely be operative to varying extents. However, the…
SIPRI: Escalation Risks at the Space–Nuclear Nexus
Experts from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute have prepared a policy paper on the problem of the risk of nuclear escalation, which may arise as a result of an aggravation of confrontation between nuclear powers in space. The authors of the paper note that against the background of the deteriorating security situation, the erosion…
Sanctions for Domestic Use
Two years of intensified sanctions pressure on Russia have demonstrated their low effectiveness, according to Ivan Timofeev, the Director General of the Russian Council on International Affairs (RCIA). Despite the significant damage inflicted upon the Russian economy, the sanctions have failed to alter Russia's political course, serving instead as a means for Western politicians to…
Challenges and threats of the Munich Security Conference
Experts from the Munich Security Conference have prepared a regular report on the state of international relations. The 2024 report received the headline "Lose – Lose?" against the background of geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty, which continue to increase and cause damage to many states. The introduction of the report says that the geopolitical and…
What Awaits Russian Economy in 2024
In 2023, the Russian economy showed growth of 3.5% and almost 4% in industrial production. This year, however, it will not be possible to repeat these successes, as there are a number of favorable factors that contributed to growth. The main challenges to growth in 2024, among other things, will be the risks of high…
Russia Made It To The Top-5 World Economies… Or Is It?
In 2022, Russia entered the top-5 largest economies in the world according to the World Bank. This achievement was attributed to the calculation methodology and favorable economic conditions, as stated by experts from the Profile magazine. However, in the current year, the global economic landscape has shifted significantly, and experts believe that replicating last year's…
Red Flags for the Sanctions Initiators
A significant number of sanctions against Russia following the commencement of military operations on Ukrainian territory have predictably led to an increase in schemes aimed at evading them from Russia's side. As a result, the USA and the EU have begun actively developing practices to expose Moscow's adaptation strategies to these new restrictions. Ivan Timofeev,…
«Verstka»: Russia can import anything from anywhere
Russia easily bypasses Western sanctions by importing large volumes of banned products, according to a recent investigation by the Russian media outlet «Verstka». Over the past six months, Russia has imported chips from Western companies, spare parts, and machine tools for the defence industry worth millions of dollars. The investigation is based on the…
New boundaries of social groups in Russia
Economists from Moscow State University have proposed a novel approach to defining social group boundaries in Russia, incorporating social, economic, and behavioral factors. This approach aims to address the limitations of the traditional income-only method, which fails to acknowledge a significant segment of the population situated between the middle class and the poor. According…