Russian economy: SANCTIONS backfire, return to growth, investment surge (The Duran)

Despite repeated Western claims that Russia is on the brink of economic collapse, the latest data tells a very different story as the Russian economy returned to growth in March 2026 with real incomes continuing to rise and investment now reaching 23% of GDP. Alex Christoforou and Alexander Mercouris of The Duran unpack the stunning paradox at the heart of the sanctions regime: the very measures designed to cripple the Russian economy are instead driving a domestic investment surge that is making Russians wealthier, with GDP per capita now approaching levels comparable to Britain. Could it be that a decade of Western pressure has quietly produced the most resilient version of the Russian economy in modern history?



[Posted at the SpookyWeather2 blog, May 17, 2026.]