Russian utility bills have risen more than 50% since 2022 as wartime inflation puts growing pressure on households

Utility bills in Russia have risen by more than 50% since the start of the war in Ukraine in 2022 and by more than 13% this year alone, adding to growing pressure on households already facing higher food, fuel and borrowing costs.

The increases come as Russia struggles with persistent inflation driven by a wartime economy, a tight labor market and elevated military spending.

In Moscow, history teacher Polina Ibragimova told Reuters her monthly utility bill had risen by about a quarter since the summer to 12,000 rubles, or roughly $150, leaving the bill higher than the salary advance she normally receives halfway through the month.

Russia routinely raises regulated tariffs for heating, water and electricity, but this year’s increases have been unusually steep. Many tariff adjustments were delayed until October, after parliamentary elections, while some regions approved increases substantially above the national average.

The pressure is extending beyond households. Small businesses are also facing higher utility charges at the same time as tax increases and other costs rise, adding to strains from Russia’s widening budget deficit and higher military expenditure.

The increases have drawn criticism from senior political figures. Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov said his own monthly utility bill for a Moscow apartment had risen above 30,000 rubles, while parliament speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said some regional increases were excessive and called for regulatory intervention.

The Bank of Russia has repeatedly identified inflation as one of the economy’s biggest challenges and warned that sharp utility increases could push household inflation expectations higher, complicating efforts to return inflation toward its 4% target.