Russian priorities questioned: Billions for war, neglecting infrastructure

According to Anton Herasczenko, Russians appear to prioritize spending billions on war efforts rather than on citizens' infrastructure, as indicated by his social media post featuring a risky bridge Russian residents must cross for their daily commute. The footage paints a dramatic picture.

Every move Russia has made since 2022 seems to be in line with Operation Ukraine. This year's budget allocation within the Russian Federation for war necessities is approximately 42 percent of total expenditures, equating to around 13.4 trillion rubles. The trend is set to persist through 2024-2026, according to several Russian media outlets.

For Putin, money is primarily a tool for aggression. Based on the latest intelligence, the Russian president's military is projected to escalate conflicts across the Middle East, Africa, and the Balkans. By 2028, Russia aims to resurrect its armed forces to their 2022 prowess.

Due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, it seems other areas of life in Russia are being neglected. Anton Herasczenko, an advisor to the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs, regularly posts content depicting life within Russia on his Twitter profile.

Heraszczenko's attention has turned towards Transbaikalia, a mountainous region in the Asian part of Russia located east of Lake Baikal. Stretching approximately 621 miles between the Patom Mountains and North Baikal in the north, and the borders of Russia, Mongolia, and China to the south, the area recently saw the construction of a fear-inducing bridge.

Citizens of a settlement in the Transbaikal Territory in Russia are forced to traverse this daunting bridge to get to work. Reasonably new, built only two years ago, the bridge's construction cost was 23 million rubles ($183,000).

"I phone my husband every day to check if he's safely reached his workplace. One time, he didn't pick up and I feared he'd fallen into the river. People are forced to risk their lives just to get to work. The slightest error can lead to disaster. When it snowed, the bridge became extremely slippery. It's slightly easier now since the snow has melted," shared one petrified woman.

To conclude his post, Herasczenko insists that it seems more important for Russians to fund their alleged genocidal war than to properly care for their nation's citizens.