CNBC
Russia says its economy is strong. It just fired a top economist who warned otherwise
Tuesday, August 18, 2026
Andrei Klepach, an economist at Russia's Finance Ministry, was fired from his position after presenting a report that predicted Russia could not sustain a prolonged conflict with Ukraine. The report was delivered amid ongoing Russian military operations in Ukraine. Klepach's dismissal occurred as Russian officials made public statements about economic strength.
Original reporting: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/08/18/ukraine-war-russia-economy-klepach.html
