A Calculated Silence: Russia's Economic Reality in the Shadow of War The dismissal of Andrei Klepach, former chief economist at VEB, a state controlled development bank in Russia, is consistent with the Kremlin's zero tolerance approach to dissent.
However, Klepach's assessment that Russia's economy faces significant challenges starkly contrasts with the official line touted by Russian government officials: their economy is strong and healthy despite the "unprecedented foreign pressure" stemming from the invasion of Ukraine.
This narrative has been a persistent feature of Russia's wartime propaganda machine, deflecting attention from the economic costs of its military campaign.