Russian officials continue to propose measures to prepare the Russian military industry for a protracted war against Ukraine, and also allegedly create additional conditions for evading sanctions. This is stated in the ISW report..

In particular, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said on February 8 that the country's government would subsidize investment projects to modernize enterprises operating in the interests of the Russian military and would allocate significant funds for the production of new military equipment..

Mishustin also said that the Russian government will expand benefits for Russian entrepreneurs who support the army, including extending the terms for paying the rent of federal property..

These measures are likely to step up the Kremlin's efforts to gradually prepare the Russian military industry for a protracted war against Ukraine, while avoiding broader economic mobilization that could lead to further economic turmoil in the country and the corresponding discontent, analysts say..

Russian officials also allegedly proposed these measures in coordination with a recent decree to exclude officials from income tax filing requirements and with proposals to abolish federal procurement procedures..

“The Kremlin may be creating a system of subsidies and benefits designed with minimal oversight and consideration. The lack of control and accounting is likely to allow Russian companies to better move away from international sanctions regimes aimed at the Russian military industry,” the report notes..

On February 8, the UK announced a new list of sanctioned entities, focusing on the Russian military industry..

ISW previously reported that 82% of Iranian drones shot down in Ukraine had chips, semiconductors and other components from the United States, suggesting that Russia and Iran are likely using loopholes to transfer Western weapons components to Russia through intermediaries..

“The Kremlin’s efforts to prepare the Russian defense industry for a protracted war against Ukraine rests in part on the ability of the Russian defense industry to have continued access to multiple secure supply chains of key foreign components that it cannot produce,” ISW said..

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For Putin, the stake in the war against Ukraine is not only the future of the Russian state, its integrity, imperial greatness and international prestige, but also his own life and personal place in history.. Therefore, the exit from Ukraine is unacceptable for him, he only needs a victory.

Read about how the owner of the Kremlin seeks to take revenge in Ukraine in the article by Vladimir Kravchenko: “Putin has made a choice: what will be the war with Russia this year”.