MOSCOW, Jan 10, 2023 (BFF/AFP) - Russia swung from a budget surplus to a

deficit last year, officials said Tuesday, as authorities boost defence
spending amid Moscow's assault on Ukraine.

The deficit reached 3.3 trillion rubles ($47 billion), or 2.3 percent of
gross domestic product, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov told a government
meeting.

Russia ran a budget surplus in 2021.

Siluanov said that compared to 2021, state spending increased by more than
six trillion rubles, adding that the expenses "were mainly aimed at helping the
population."

The Russian government has allocated funds to support the families of
troops fighting Ukraine, as well as companies hit by a partial military
mobilisation announced in September.

Last year revenues surpassed government estimates by 2.8 trillion rubles,
Siluanov said.

He said that additional revenues came from the sale of oil and gas due to
an increase in energy prices after the beginning of the offensive on February
24.
The deficit for 2023 is forecast to amount to two percent of the GDP.

Analysts estimate that Russia plans to spend about a third of its total
budget on defence and security this year.