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Olena Mukhina


Putin shuts curtain on Russia’s reality — new law bans disclosure of war and economic data

From economic figures to mobilization plans, Russia seals off knowledge as external pressures mount.
Russia is already planning its next Ukraine invasion. Here's what it will look like
Russian President Vladimir Putin looks through binoculars. Photo: RFE/RL
Putin shuts curtain on Russia’s reality — new law bans disclosure of war and economic data

Russian President Vladimir Putin has expanded the scope of information covered by the state secrets law, tightening control over society during the war in Ukraine. Now, data related to foreign policy, international trade, economic policy, scientific developments, and mobilization preparations may be classified as secret, Bloomberg reports. 

Since the start of the war, the Kremlin has stopped publishing many statistical reports, including budget data, oil production figures, and military losses. At the same time, Russia has enacted a law criminalizing “fake news” about the army, used to suppress any criticism. Opposition activists, journalists, and social media users are being sentenced to long prison terms.

Anyone who obtains such materials without authorization risks up to eight years in prison.

“This is the destruction of expertise on the Russian economy based on facts and statistics and will lead to more repression,” said Andrei Soldatov, an expert on Russia’s security services.

He explained that classifying information about mobilization is a “reaction to attacks by Ukrainian drones” targeting bunkers and underground government facilities, rather than a genuine preparation for a new draft.

During war, any information about the enemy’s capabilities can be used against it, for example, in defense planning or further combat operations. In 2025, different experts have expressed views that the Russian economy is overheating.

On 27 June, Putin announced that Russia plans to cut military spending starting next year and over the following three-year period. He also emphasized that Russia must avoid slipping into a recession “under any circumstances”, acknowledging warnings from economists about a potential economic slowdown.

Despite the pressure from the West, Russia may still benefit from Iranian, Chinese, and North Korean aid, as well as getting large profits from the rise in oil prices amid the Israeli-Iranian war.