Russia's parliamentarians are aware of how much is being spent on the military operation in Syria, and they don't consider the sum to be extreme.
Valentina Matvienko, speaker of Russia's Federation Council, told Interfax that the costs of maintaining the operation in Syria correspond to Russia's capabilities.
"It is simply impossible for the parliament to be excluded and unaware of the amount of spending on defense and that which goes to other components," she said.
Matvienko would not say what the amount spent on defense was, explaining that this was a "state secret."
In March, President Vladimir Putin claimed that the campaign in Syria, which started in September 2015, had cost Russia 33 billion rubles ($523 million). However, in September, the RBC newspaper reported that in one year of operation in Syria, costs may have been no less than 58 billion rubles ($920 million). Most of the costs come from air support flights and cruise missile strikes.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
