Defense spending in Russia remains almost at the same level despite the fact that the Russian government has announced military budget cuts in 2018 due to the completion of the Syria campaign, according to Glavred.
This year, Russian leadership plans to spend RUB 2.7 trillion on defense (in 2017 it was RUB 2.8 trillion), according to the former head of Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service, Mykola Malomuzh, Glavred reports.
Taking into account the completion of the Syria campaign, Russia's defense budget is seeing no reduction but rather an increase in some areas, he believes.
Read alsoMoscow signaling: What stands behind Russia’s withdrawal from Joint Coordination Centre in Donbas
Read alsoNo shifts on peacekeepers anytime soon – Ukraine's envoy to UN
"The Russian Federation will have to use contingents with more manpower, which will require more funding, and it is ensured by their defense budget," he added.