The Russian government insists that its economy is strong, but economist Andrei Klepach, who warned that the war in Ukraine could trigger a social crisis, was fired:
Klepach stated that Russia cannot win a prolonged war of attrition, and its economic lag will widen. Ukraine's attacks on Russia's energy infrastructure are adding pressure to an economy already reliant on military spending, higher taxes, and subsidized lending:
Russian officials told CNBC that the economy is strong and healthy despite "unprecedented foreign pressure":
Klepach's dismissal was reportedly linked to his scathing economic assessment:
"In this war of attrition, we will not win the competition," Klepach said:
