Seoul Gazette - Russian economy rebounds in second quarter despite Ukrainian strikes

Russian gross domestic product (GDP) grew 1.3 percent in April-June, the statistics agency Rosstat said, after a 0.2 percent contraction in January-March.

That growth exceeded the 0.9 percent forecast by Russia's economy ministry. In the second quarter of 2025, the economy grew 1.1 percent.

"Growth in the second quarter was driven by stable domestic demand," the ministry said in a statement.

"The recovery in growth rates, which was already recorded in March, continues despite ongoing external pressure and constraints in certain sectors," said Russia's economy minister Maxim Reshetnikov.

Ukraine has unleashed a sweeping drone campaign against Russian refineries since the spring, triggering a weeks-long fuel crisis in the world's third-biggest oil producer.

In the summer, it also began targeting warehouses of Russia's biggest online retailer Wildberries, inflicting losses not only on the company but also on hundreds of sellers who use the platform.

In the war's fifth year, non-military sectors of the Russian economy have come under increasing strain, struggling under high borrowing costs, labour shortages and inflation.

Russia's central bank recently trimmed its annual GDP forecast to flat to 1 percent, from an earlier forecast of 0.4-1.3 percent.

U.Hyeon--SG