October 2025
13Oct

Russia “froze” the National Welfare Fund: pensions of Russian citizens under threat

The Russian government is restricting the use of funds from the National Welfare Fund after almost two-thirds of its assets were spent during the war. For 2026, about $460 million is planned to be used from the fund, which is tens of times less than before. Thus, the main burden of financing state expenditures, due to income deficit and sanctions, will fall on the population. UNN writes with reference to the Center for Countering Disinformation. Details The Russian government has decided to limit the use...

October 13, 2025
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September 2025
26Sep

Aging, Alcohol, and Attrition: The Economic and Political Ramifications of Public Health in Contemporary Russia

By Andrew Kelmanson, Anonymous Author, Emily Sehati, Eliana Svilik, Kyle H. Chan, Marcus Hsieh & Will Pirone The Russo-Ukrainian War has exacerbated several of the country’s existing public health crises. Specifically, this paper identifies 3 areas of public health concern that are inflamed by the conflict in Ukraine that will likely have an outsized effect on the economic success and political legitimacy of the country in the coming years. These are, namely, alcohol addiction, an aging population, and attrition from...

September 26, 2025
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July 2025
07Jul

Russia launches controversial scheme to boost birth rate, offers money to schoolgirls for having children

Amid a sharp decline in birth rates, Russia has launched a controversial new initiative that offers financial incentives to school and college-going girls to become pregnant and raise children. The program, currently being piloted in select regions, provides over 100,000 rubles (approximately Rs 90,000) to adult schoolgirls who agree to give birth and care for a child. The scheme is part of a broader demographic strategy adopted in March 2025 aimed at reversing Russia’s population decline. It is being implemented...

July 7, 2025
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January 2025
28Jan

Russia Announces Major Pension Indexation Updates

Russian President Vladimir Putin recently announced significant updates to the pension indexation system, which will take effect from January 2025. These changes aim to adjust pension payments based on actual inflation rates, enhancing the financial support available to millions of retirees across the country. Starting January, the insurance pensions for both working and non-working pensioners were initially indexed by 7.3%. Recognizing the necessity for more substantial support amid rising inflation, Putin proposed to retroactively increase the indexation to 9.5% effective...

January 28, 2025
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July 2024
22Jul

How U.S. pension funds help Putin’s gas gambit

Russia needs to ramp up liquefied natural gas exports to replenish Kremlin coffers and fund its war in Ukraine. Western pension funds may inadvertently be lending a hand. Data compiled by investigative consultancy Data Desk and the Anti-Corruption Data Collective show that public retirement funds, including those managed by the states of Washington, New York and California, have indirectly invested in the specialized ice-class carriers serving Russia’s Yamal LNG — the country’s largest active gas export terminal and a vital...

July 22, 2024
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June 2024
21Jun

Russia. Putin suggests using oil windfall for pensions

Russia's President Vladimir Putin suggested on Thursday to use a part of the accumulated oil wealth to support voluntary pensions saving and capitalise development institutions. "Part of the money in the National Prosperity Fund should be used to co-finance voluntary pension savings," Putin said in his annual address to both houses of parliament. Putin suggested the state should contribute 1,000 roubles for each 1,000 roubles contributed by private individuals in voluntary pension savings schemes. "Part of the money should be used for...

June 21, 2024
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July 2022
01Jul

Japan. World’s Top Pension Fund Writes Off Russia Stocks, Sells Bonds and Closes Year With Gains

Japan’s Government Pension Investment Fund said Friday that it’s been selling Russian assets since March following the invasion of Ukraine, marking down some values to almost zero in the process. The world’s biggest pension fund has substantially reduced holdings of Russian bonds, which can still be traded over-the-counter. The fund has been largely stuck with the country’s stocks, as foreign investors face trading restrictions, Chief Investment Officer Eiji Ueda said in the GPIF annual report. The Government Pension Investment Fund lost...

July 1, 2022
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June 2022
23Jun

Russia sanctions will hit US pensions

The Pacific Investment Management Co. (Pimco) has warned the U.S. Treasury Department about the fallout to investors from the strict sanctions that are pushing Russia toward default. Executives at the asset management giant told the U.S. Treasury that U.S. pension funds will face losses if fund managers are forced to write down their Russian holdings, according to people familiar with the matter. They also made the point that a Russian default would allow President Vladimir Putin to keep foreign currency...

June 23, 2022
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10Jun

U.S. prohibits investors from buying Russian debt, stocks

U.S. investors are prohibited from buying both new and existing debt and equity securities issued by an entity in the Russian Federation, according to new Treasury Department guidance. The guidance released Monday clarifies that executive orders signed this year by President Joe Biden encompass bans on Americans purchasing all Russian debt and Russian company shares. U.S. investors are still allowed to hold Russian securities they already hold and purchasing shares in a U.S. fund that contains Russian debt or equity securities...

June 10, 2022
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May 2022
26May

Putin hikes Russian pensions, plays down Ukraine impact on economy

President Vladimir Putin ordered 10% rises on Wednesday in pensions and the minimum wage to cushion Russians from inflation, but denied the country's economic problems were all linked to the war in Ukraine. With annual inflation near 18% last month, the Kremlin leader acknowledged that 2022 would be a "difficult" year for the Russian economy. "When I say 'difficult', it doesn't mean all these difficulties are connected to the special military operation," Putin told a televised meeting of the State Council...

May 26, 2022
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