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Does the Russian government really spend 40% of its budget on the military?

We investigate how much the Russian state is spending on the war in Ukraine.

According to the head of the British military, the Russian government spends 40% of its budget on its war machine. But is it true?

With the help of Professor Bettina Renz from Nottingham University and Dr Richard Connolly from The Royal United Services Institute, Olga Smirnova investigates the figure.

Presenter: Tom Colls
Producer: Olga Smirnova
Production Co-ordinator Katie Morrison
Series Producer: Tom Colls
Sound: Graham Puddifoot
Editor: Richard Vadon

(Photo: Russian military perform Victory Day parade night rehearsal in Moscow. Credit: Oleg Nikishin/Getty Images)

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9 minutes

Last on

Mon 18 Mar 202400:50GMT
BBC World Service except East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa

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Broadcasts

  • Sat 16 Mar 202405:50GMT
    BBC World Service except East and Southern Africa, Europe and the Middle East & West and Central Africa
  • Sat 16 Mar 202411:50GMT
    BBC World Service East and Southern Africa & Europe and the Middle East only
  • Sat 16 Mar 202416:50GMT
    BBC World Service News Internet
  • Sun 17 Mar 202409:50GMT
    BBC World Service West and Central Africa
  • Sun 17 Mar 202411:50GMT
    BBC World Service except East and Southern Africa, Europe and the Middle East & West and Central Africa
  • Sun 17 Mar 202422:50GMT
    BBC World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only
  • Mon 18 Mar 202400:50GMT
    BBC World Service except East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa

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