logo
episode-header-image
Mar 2022
18m 4s

How much is the Ukraine war costing Russ...

Bbc World Service
About this episode

Munitions, equipment losses, sanctions, isolation - Vladimir Putin's decision to invade has come with a rapidly increasing price tag. Just the cost of prosecuting the war is proving astronomical, as Edward Arnold of military think tank RUSI tells Ed Butler.

Then there's the economic blowback - the freezing of the central bank's reserves, the exclusion from international finance, the boycotting by key international companies. Over the coming months, Russian industry could grind to a halt, while citizens could face food shortages, according to economist Maxim Mironov of IE Business School.

Take the example of aviation - soon half the planes in Russia could be grounded for lack of spare parts, says consultant Rob Watts of ACC Aviation. But will this be enough to convince Putin and the political elite around him to pull out of Ukraine? The Ukrainian political scientist Olga Chyzh says don't hold your breath.

Producer: Laurence Knight

(Picture: Troop train carrying Russian tanks; Credit: Russian Defence Ministry\TASS via Getty Images)

Up next
Jul 10
Business Daily meets: Max Levchin
The fintech entrepreneur tells us about co-founding PayPal, and how an embarrassing personal moment when trying to buy a car, led him to start the buy now, pay later company Affirm.Produced and presented by Leanna Byrne(Image: PayPal Co-Founder & Affirm CEO Max Levchin in 2019. C ... Show More
17m 34s
Jul 9
The impact of 'thirsty' data centres
We're in the US state of Georgia, where huge data centres need water to keep cool. But how is this need for cloud storage and AI capability affecting local residents and the environment?Presenter: Michelle Fleury Producer: Nathalie Jimenez(Image: Georgia resident Beverly Morris l ... Show More
17m 50s
Jul 8
Does university still get you a well-paid job?
Graduates are facing one of the toughest jobs markets in decades. We hear from students in India, the US and UK about whether they feel a university or college degree is worth it as we discuss the cost of attending university around the world and what your job prospects might be ... Show More
17m 27s
Recommended Episodes
Dec 2022
A tough winter for Ukraine as Russia exploits the cold
As the war continues and winter sets in, Russia is targeting Ukraine's energy infrastructure with waves of missile and drone strikes, at times cutting off electricity for millions of civilians. How are the Ukrainian people coping? Does Ukraine’s military have enough weaponry and ... Show More
49m 17s
Mar 2022
What If It's Different This Time? - The Impact of the Russian-Ukraine War
What can we do to prepare if the Russian-Ukraine war gets even worse?Topics covered include:How risk and uncertainty differ as does how we manage themWhat we can learn from Ukraine and Russian citizens on dealing with uncertaintyWhat will be the financial impact of the sanctions ... Show More
22m 12s
Sep 2023
Ukraine’s offensive: Too slow to triumph?
America's top general has warned that Ukraine’s counter offensive is running out of time. Speaking to the BBC, Mark Milley admitted the offensive had gone more slowly than expected. With just one month of fighting before winter weather sets in, does the pace of the push back agai ... Show More
49m 8s
Jul 2023
How to respond to rocketing grain prices?
Russia used military drones to attack Ukrainian grain warehouses on the Danube River, targeting another vital export route for Kyiv close to its border with Romania. Global grain prices have spiked as a result, exacerbated by Russia quitting the Black Sea grain deal. Ed Butler di ... Show More
50m 11s
Dec 2023
Is time running out for Ukraine?
This week is crucial for the future of Ukraine. After promises of open-ended support, the US and the EU are now struggling to agree on new funding for the war effort. President Zelensky says Ukraine risks losing the war if new funding is not available.So much so that President Ze ... Show More
48m 50s
Dec 2021
Why Ukraine Matters to Vladimir Putin
The Russian military is on the move toward the border with Ukraine, with American intelligence suggesting that Moscow is preparing for an offensive involving some 175,000 troops.Could the moves herald a full-scale invasion? And if so, what is driving President Vladimir V. Putin’s ... Show More
26m 2s
Feb 2022
War in Ukraine: what is Putin’s end game?
As Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine enters its second day, we bring this special episode of the World Review podcast. Ukraine is facing an onslaught from Russian forces on several fronts, with troops entering the northern districts of the capital, Kyiv. The Ukrainian presi ... Show More
20m 21s
Mar 2022
Former MI6 Chief on Putin's Gamble in Ukraine
Vladimir Putin made the decision to invade Ukraine - sending shockwaves around the world. As Russian forces have shelled schools, administrative buildings and residential blocks, civilians on both sides have expressed horror at the sudden turn of events. As detention centers in M ... Show More
54m 5s
Sep 2022
Ukraine: Have we reached a turning point in the war?
Ukraine's military has retaken thousands of square kilometres of territory near the north-eastern city of Kharkiv. The Russians are said to have retreated in haste and disarray, but they retaliated by shelling a large power plant, causing blackouts in Kharkiv, the country's secon ... Show More
29m 33s