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Putin plans to boost Russian military spending by 27% to record £154bn in 2027 as hybrid attacks on Europe escalate

From the Newshound archive · first published 1 October 2026.

Putin plans to boost Russian military spending by 27% to record £154bn in 2027 as hybrid attacks on Europe escalate

Russia is to spend 17.1 trillion roubles on defence next year — two roubles for every one spent on welfare, schools and hospitals combined. Social programmes face cuts to fund the record budget, which covers three years of war spending totalling £450bn. Nato Secretary-General Mark Rutte warned today that Russia is 'testing us across Europe' through airspace violations, arson and sabotage.

The 27% rise is up from an originally budgeted 13.5 trillion roubles, with the uplift confirmed in government documents.

UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting last weekend warned Britain faces 'a greater risk of war than at any point in my lifetime.'

Rutte cited the Russian hybrid attack at Leipzig airport in August as evidence of Moscow's escalating campaign against Nato members.

MoreMetroPutin increases military spending by 27% to record £150,000,000,000 next yearEuromaidan PressTwo rubles for the army for every one on welfare, schools, and hospitals: Russia's 2027 wartime budget - Euromaidan PressThe New York TimesRussia to Sharply Increase War Spending and Cut to Social Programs - The New York Times
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