Maria Ragutkina23:10, 19.04.25

The Kremlin, due to the decrease in oil and gas revenues, has reached into the wallets of the alcohol-dependent population.

The aggressor country Russia is financing the war against Ukraine by raising excise taxes on alcohol . This was reported by the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine on Telegram .

It is specified that the excise tax on alcohol in the Russian Federation has been increased by 15% since January 2025. The results of the Kremlin’s new tax policy are still being observed.

“During the first quarter of the year, domestic vodka production fell by almost 22.7%, brandy by 25%. New excise taxes on alcohol are an attempt to increase revenues to the budget of the aggressor state, from where Russia finances the criminal war against Ukraine,” the GUR explained.

According to intelligence, this also indicates Russia’s economic problems. It is explained that the Kremlin has decided to reach into the pockets of the alcohol-dependent population due to the decrease in oil and gas revenues.

“The increase in retail prices for alcohol, caused by the increase in excise taxes, is unlikely to change the diet of Russians, but it will completely scale up the level of the shadow market with cheap alcohol like “Mr. Cider.”, – the GUR concluded.

(C)UNIAN 2025