Russia reported strong economic growth for 2024 on Friday as record spending on the military offensive against Ukraine outweighed the impact of Western sanctions. Before sending troops into Ukraine, Russia had faced almost a decade of sluggish growth and falling living standards -- suffering under sanctions and restrained domestic spending after Moscow annexed Crimea in 2014.

Since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia’s economy has surpassed expectations. But some experts say this image of resilience is a mirage crafted by the Kremlin.

High inflation is the key challenge for the Russian economy in 2025, while the economic growth rate is expected to fall from 4.1% recorded last year, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin told President Vladimir Putin on Friday.

The Russian economy recorded a growth of 4.1% in 2024, slightly surpassing the official forecast of 3.9%, according to Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin. The Prime Minister shared these figures during a meeting with President Vladimir Putin,