Regions in Russia go into bank debt to plug holes in the budget. There is no longer enough money for social benefits.
Regions in Russia are taking more and more loans from commercial banks, trying to plug holes in their budgets. According to Finance Minister Anton Siluanov: in 2026, the regional budget deficit may reach 1.9 trillion rubles. For comparison, in 2025, regional expenses exceeded income by 1.5 trillion rubles, and in 2024 - by 407 billion. About 70 regions are already facing a deficit.
The government must report to the president on the allocation of at least 100 billion rubles to the regions to meet budget obligations - salaries, social benefits and purchases. But while the federal center promises support, the regions are forced to look for money from banks.
The Irkutsk region is going to borrow 10 billion rubles at 16.5% per year. The total public debt of the region has already exceeded 100 billion rubles.
Krasnodar region plans to attract 20 billion rubles.
Primorye - opening credit lines of billions of dollars for 3 years.
Even Kemerovo's administration announced auctions of 500 million rubles, for which the city is ready to pay the banks 120 million percent over two years.
And all this is happening against the background of cuts in social spending.
In Primorye, funding was cut for 18 government programs and there were delays in social payments.
In the Irkutsk region, the prosecutor's office warns about the lack of sufficient funding for medicines, payment of compensation to resource supply organizations and completion of construction of social facilities.
באזור קמרובו, הם הולכים להקצות 13.9 מיליארד רובל להגנה על בריאות הציבור ב-2027, לעומת 16.2 מיליארד השנה. מינוס 2.3 מיליארד לרפואה - למרות העובדה שאפילו כדי לכסות את החור התקציבי, קמרובו צריכה לבקש הלוואות בנקאיות.
The budget deficit is covered by loans, cuts in social services: the banks receive interest, and all we have to do is wait for the payments and hope that they will be enough for basic needs.
Honestly - that's the point.