From: Kyiv Post — Russia says everything is under control. But the numbers tell a different story. Inflation is accelerating. Industrial output is shrinking. Foreign reserves are frozen. Central Bank interest rates locked at a crushing 21%, real investment is evaporating, and new sanctions could bring the Russian economy to its knees. Despite the Kremlin’s propaganda, Russia’s economy is buckling under the weight of war, sanctions, and decades of mismanagement. And now, we may be approaching a tipping point—not just economically, but socially and politically. In this special analysis, we explore: Why the impending US sanctions on Russia’s partners are a game changer. Why Russia’s current inflation is far worse than reported. How collapsing industries could trigger a cascade of layoffs and regional unrest. Why Putin’s “economic stability” narrative is unraveling under scrutiny. And what comes next if this fragile system breaks.
To break it down, we’re joined by Prof. Volodymyr Lugovskyy—a Ukraine-born economist, PhD from Purdue, and current Chair of the Economics Department at Indiana University. With multiple publications in the American Economic Review, European Economic Review, and Journal of Financial Economics, Prof. Lugovskyy brings data, expertise, and a warning: Russia is playing with fire. Follow Prof. Volodymyr Lugovskyy: Twitter: @Lugovskyy
Voice of Ukraine 