Russian President Vladimir Putin has expanded the scope of information covered by the state secrets law, tightening control over society during the war in Ukraine. Now, data related to foreign policy, international trade, economic policy, scientific developments, and mobilization preparations may be classified as secret, Bloomberg reports. 

Anyone who obtains such materials without authorization risks up to eight years in prison.

“This is the destruction of expertise on the Russian economy based on facts and statistics and will lead to more repression,” said Andrei Soldatov, an expert on Russia’s security services.

He explained that classifying information about mobilization is a “reaction to attacks by Ukrainian drones” targeting bunkers and underground government facilities, rather than a genuine preparation for a new draft.

On 27 June, Putin announced that Russia plans to cut military spending starting next year and over the following three-year period. He also emphasized that Russia must avoid slipping into a recession “under any circumstances”, acknowledging warnings from economists about a potential economic slowdown.

Despite the pressure from the West, Russia may still benefit from Iranian, Chinese, and North Korean aid, as well as getting large profits from the rise in oil prices amid the Israeli-Iranian war.