In Russia, the budget deficit rose by 145 percent in the first two months of the year, reaching 2.7 trillion rubles. The Ministry of Finance of Russia reported that the budget deficit in the first two months of the year increased by 145 percent compared to the same period last year, reaching 2.7 trillion rubles (approximately 31.5 billion dollars) due to rising expenses. The Ministry stated in a written announcement that the country’s budget revenues in the first two months of the year increased by 6.3 percent to 5.3 trillion rubles compared to the same period last year. The announcement indicated that during this period, budget expenditures increased by 30.5 percent to 8 trillion rubles, resulting in a 145 percent increase in the budget deficit to 2.7 trillion rubles. It was mentioned that non-oil and gas revenues amounted to 3.8 trillion rubles, while oil and gas revenues reached 1.5 trillion rubles. The announcement highlighted that the budget deficit as a percentage of GDP was at 1.7 percent, and it was emphasized that as per budget regulations, this ratio is planned to be reduced to 0.5 percent by the end of 2025. Budget expenditures in Russia have significantly increased in recent years, particularly due to defense industry spending.