Soviet Union
Communist federal state of 1922-1991; Russia is its successor state.
Russia's war spending is now measured against the Soviet Union: in March 2026 SIPRI's Julian Cooper found defence and security took 38 to 40% of federal spending, the highest share since the Soviet era.
Last refreshed: 12 October 2026
Timeline for Soviet Union
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The Soviet Union (USSR) was the communist federal state that ruled Russia, Ukraine and 13 other republics from 1922 until its dissolution in December 1991. The Russian Federation succeeded it, taking over its permanent seat on the UN Security Council.
Its last years set the template now used to judge Russia's war economy. After the oil price collapse of 1986 the Soviet Union kept military spending high and covered falling export revenue with foreign borrowing and money creation, until it could no longer service its debts in 1991.
Since March 2026 the comparison has had numbers behind it. SIPRI's Julian Cooper found that Russia's 2026 budget gave defence and security its largest slice of federal spending since Soviet times. The 2027 draft lifts defence to a record 17.1tn roubles as oil and gas revenue falls short of plan. Where Moscow's war budget goes next, the Soviet end point is the benchmark analysts reach for.
The Soviet spending benchmark returns
The Soviet Union has become the yardstick for Russia's military budget. In March 2026 SIPRI's Julian Cooper costed Russia's 2026 defence and security outlay at 16.8tn roubles, or 38 to 40% of the federal budget, and found no share that high since Soviet times.
The comparison sharpened in September. Moscow's draft for 2027 sets defence at a record 17.1tn roubles, while oil and gas revenue for 2026 is forecast at 7,584bn roubles, 1,335bn short of plan. In outline that is the late Soviet pattern: military outlays held high as export earnings fell. The Soviet Union bridged its gap with foreign borrowing and money creation until it could no longer pay its debts in 1991.