Voluntary contributions to Russia's federal budget reached 383.69 billion rubles, over $4.5 billion, by mid-August 2026, a figure already 1.5 times the total for all of 2025. Non-state donations stood at just 15.6 billion rubles before a closed-door meeting between President Vladimir Putin and business leaders in March, after which inflows surged tenfold in April alone and continued climbing monthly through August.
The government has separately raised income and value-added taxes to fund the war and may introduce a windfall tax on the financial sector this autumn. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied reports that Putin personally solicited funds from business leaders.
The donation surge comes as Russia intensifies military operations, with Moscow targeted by 620 drones in a single night and missile strikes continuing across Ukraine.