There are more than 16,000 sanctions imposed against Russia. Yet the Russian economy and war machine grew by 3.6% in 2023 and is projected to grow another 2.6% in 2024.

Nearly six per cent of Russia's gross domestic product goes towards military spending. At a time when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is scrambling to acquire arms, funds and recruits, Vladimir Putin seems confident in his ambitions for the future.