Billions in Losses: Economic Crime in russia Hits Record Highs

Losses from economic crimes in the rf increased significantly in 2025, having exposed deep problems in public administration and the corporate sector amid economic instability.

In January–November 2025, total losses from economic crimes in russia reached about $4 billion. The most common offenses were fraud, embezzlement, and misappropriation of property, as well as illegal financial transactions. At the same time, the main financial losses are associated with the embezzlement of budget funds and abuses in large companies.

About 70% of recorded economic crimes are classified as serious and extremely serious ones. This indicates that these are not isolated violations, but persistent schemes with high risks for the economy. Crimes are increasingly focused on large cash flows that are controlled by the state or related structures.

Corruption in government agencies plays an important role in maintaining high levels of economic crime. The highest number of violations of anti-corruption legislation was recorded in construction, housing and utilities, and the military-industrial complex.

The increase in losses against the background of a relatively stable number of cases points to structural problems in russia’s economy. The concentration of resources in the public and corporate sectors, weak control over their use, and high corruption risks reduce the country’s investment attractiveness even for “friendly” states and increase the economy’s dependence on administrative distribution of funds rather than market mechanisms.