Ukraine's Military Intelligence Chief Claims Russia's Budget Deficit at $82 Billion Due to Ukrainian Strikes

Ukraine's military intelligence chief Oleh Ivashchenko claimed that Ukrainian strikes have caused Russia's budget deficit to reach $82 billion. The Kyiv Independent reported this figure directly, attributing it to the impact of Ukrainian military operations. Ukrinform, however, stated that Russia may still have enough resources to sustain the war effort through 2027 and 2028, without providing a specific financial figure. The two outlets presented divergent narratives: Kyiv Independent focused on a specific deficit amount, while Ukrinform emphasized Russia's potential continued capacity for warfare.