08/7/2025
Since the beginning of 2025, the Russian budget has lost almost $17 billion due to the collapse in oil and gas prices. The total drop was 19%. At the same time, the ruble has strengthened by 45% since the beginning of the year, from 113.71 to 81.25 per US dollar.
Such data was reported by the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine. It is noted that the average price of Urals oil decreased by 18.4% – to $60.37 per barrel. Gas supplies to the EU fell by 50% – to 9.93 billion m³.
“In January-July 2025, revenues to the Russian federal budget from the oil and gas sector decreased by 19% compared to the same period last year – to $69.2 billion. The main reasons: falling oil prices, strengthening the ruble, and a sharp decrease in gas exports to the EU,” the intelligence agency added.
It is noted that in response to the reduction in revenues, the Russian government is reducing compensation to oil companies within the framework of the fuel damper. The Ministry of Finance has revised the forecast for oil and gas revenues for 2025 to $104.4 billion – 24% less than previous expectations ($137.3 billion).
“The decline in energy revenues highlights the increasing vulnerability of the Russian economy to external pressure. To compensate for the deficit, the government plans to use the National Welfare Fund more actively and reduce budget items to finance the war against Ukraine,” the SWR summarized the situation.
It is worth adding that in January-July 2025, Gazprom exported only 9.93 billion cubic meters of gas to Europe , which is the lowest figure since the early 1970s. After the loss of transit through Ukraine, supply volumes fell almost by half, and by the end of the year may not exceed 17 billion cubic meters.
Recall that in early August 2025, prices for AI-95 gasoline in the Russian Federation hit a new record – over 77 thousand rubles per ton, despite a complete export ban and official “concern for the market.” The key reasons were Ukrainian drone attacks on oil refineries, sanctions pressure, and a surge in domestic demand.
As OBOZ.UA reported, on August 7, it became known that another plane in Russia had an engine failure in mid-air. An Airbus A321 of Ural Airlines was flying from Moscow to Sochi and was forced to make an emergency landing. This is at least the eighth such incident with Russian airline planes in a month and another rather mild example of the collapse of Russian aviation.
I wish the drop in revenue for the mafia gangsters would drop more and quicker, but we must be very thankful that it’s going in the right direction at any rate. Every week that passes makes it harder for the ghouls to carry on with this very expensive war.