Even if the guns fall silent in Ukraine, Russia’s economy may never step off the battlefield.
Years of massive defense outlays have locked the country in a state of militarization that’s transformed factories and sucked in hundreds of thousands of workers. The surge has helped prevent the economy from shrinking — making retreat perilous.
The Kremlin has no intention of pulling back. President Vladimir Putin sees a lasting need for a well equipped Russian fighting force — something Western leaders fear he could unleash on NATO within five years — and wants to embed the thriving defense industry into his long-term vision.
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