Putin convened a closed-door meeting with oligarchs; a Russian oil tycoon 'voluntarily donated' 100 billion rubles—what lies behind this?

It’s simply a cash shortage. Modern warfare is an expensive game. Most of Russia’s assets have been frozen by the EU and the United States, leaving Russia unable to cover its military expenditures. A single Russian tank costs tens of millions of rubles—yet it can be destroyed by a Ukrainian drone costing only tens of thousands. After 1,495 days of war between Russia and Ukraine, Russia must pay over 1,295,830 compensation packages to families of fallen soldiers. The Russian Federation’s federal budget deficit has reached 3.45 trillion rubles—consuming most of its annual budget of 3.8 trillion rubles. Ukraine’s timely drone strikes against Russia’s oil and gas infrastructure have slashed Russia’s oil and gas revenues by 50% compared to the previous five-year average. In January and February 2026, the Central Bank of Russia sold 14 tons of gold. Russia is now facing the same problems as Iran: Iran’s economy was crippled under Khamenei—and he was killed in an Israeli strike. Putin has effectively ‘Iranized’ Russia. Russia itself relies heavily on large quantities of munitions and drones—many of which are manufactured in Iran.

An all-encompassing crisis envelops Russia.

Over the past year, the large-scale deployment of drones has completely transformed the nature of warfare: the average survival time for frontline assault troops during an offensive is now just 20–35 minutes. For new recruits, the average time from graduation from training camp to death on the front line is only 10 days to three weeks. Of the 300,000 conscripts mobilized in Russia’s first wave in 2022, many bore the brunt of combat operations for the subsequent two years—highlighting the war’s enormous human toll and the urgent need for more manpower at the front. This report triggered major controversy within Russia. Pro-Kremlin voices dismissed it as sheer nonsense—claiming it was fabricated by internal dissidents seeking attention and currying favor with the West, deliberately spreading false information to undermine morale. Conversely, others argue this is the unvarnished truth: Russia truly cannot sustain the war any longer and is already contemplating ceasefire negotiations. Meanwhile, increasing numbers of Russians—especially men of conscription age—are receiving pink-colored ‘Mobilization Preparedness Notices.’ Upon receipt, recipients must register at their local ‘Military Commissariat and Recruitment Office.’ One such recipient is a man in his forties—previously convinced the war concerned only twentysomethings and thirtysomethings—now shocked to find himself required to register for military service. In online comment sections, many mocked him sarcastically: ‘Hurry up and repay your debt to the Motherland—you bastard.’ Others commented that full-scale mobilization would likely begin this autumn—the current phase being merely preparatory registration. Even younger Russian men report receiving identical notices. Yet commentators caution that such orders apply only in the event of a ‘nationwide general mobilization.’ So—is Russia truly about to launch a nationwide general mobilization? Are these notices being sent to eligible males across the country merely laying the groundwork for such a move? That remains to be seen—only time will tell whether Russia initiates nationwide mobilization at the coming summer–autumn transition. After all, news reports can deceive—but battle lines do not lie, nor does mass conscription. Indeed, recently the Director of the UK’s Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) delivered his annual speech—containing even more unsettling revelations: conservative estimates indicate Russia has suffered at least 500,000 fatalities since the war began. Moreover, thanks to rapid advances in ‘long-range strike drones’ and ‘battlefield artificial intelligence,’ Russia’s casualty figures will continue rising at an accelerating pace. From World War II, when American and British codebreakers worked side-by-side at Bletchley Park, to today’s integrated Five Eyes alliance—spanning GCHQ in central London, the U.S. National Security Agency in San Antonio, and partner agencies in Canada, New Zealand, and Australia—our cooperation with European partners continues deepening. This speech further confirms that Russia faces not just conventional warfare, but a comprehensive Western-led information war, cyberwar, and AI-powered war. And as AI technologies rapidly iterate and deploy on the battlefield in Ukraine, ever more ruthless—and yet increasingly precise—targeted killings are unfolding. For instance: why can’t even Moscow, Russia’s capital, defend itself against Ukrainian FP-1 and FP-2 drones? Some say it’s due to ‘swarm tactics’: launching 500 drones in saturation attacks ensures dozens will penetrate defenses and reach Moscow. But the real issue goes beyond saturation—it’s about cost and AI. Ninety percent of Ukrainian drone components are domestically produced. Walk into a Ukrainian drone factory, and you’ll see nothing high-tech—just wood, plywood, commercial-grade engines, and off-the-shelf receivers. That’s how Ukraine rapidly and cheaply assembles drones.

Wealthiest Russians Fund 1% of Russia's State Spending Through 'Voluntary' Donations in 2026

Oct 2, 2026

Following a meeting with President Putin, Russia's wealthiest individuals contributed over 471 billion roubles to state spending, covering more than 1% of the budget. The proceeds exceeded revenues from corporate windfall taxes paid largely by metals and fertilizer companies.

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Wealthiest Russians Fund 1% of Russia's State Spending Through 'Voluntary' Donations in 2026

Wealthiest Russians Fund 1% of Russia's State Spending Through 'Voluntary' Donations in 2026

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