Russian companies are massively going bankrupt due to the war against Ukraine

The economic situation in Russia in the first half of 2026

According to ХВИЛЯ: In the first half of 2026, there has been a sharp increase in corporate bankruptcies in Russia, associated with the war against Ukraine, high key interest rates, tax pressure, and inflation. The number of bankruptcies increased by 10.8%, reaching 3,550, while in the second quarter, there was an even greater rise of 21%. Meanwhile, the number of monitoring procedures for enterprises increased by 20.9% and nearly reached 3,000.

According to the data, in the second quarter of 2026, the number of corporate bankruptcies rose by another 21%, and new monitoring procedures increased by nearly 25%. There was also a significant rise in the number of notifications about the intention to voluntarily initiate bankruptcy proceedings-by 43% compared to 2025 and by 83% compared to 2024.

The state of the tourism and logistics industries

In the first half of 2026, approximately 2,700 tourism companies in Russia ceased operations, which is 52.3% more than in the same period last year. According to the service Travelata.ru, the number of booked package tours within Russia decreased by 31%. Experts estimate that refunds for canceled trips due to the escalation in the Middle East could cost the tourism industry over 19 billion rubles.

The logistics sector has also undergone significant changes: the cost of road freight transport increased by 28.8% year-on-year and by 17.5% since the end of May. The number of applications for export transportation in the second quarter fell by 19%. Strikes by Ukrainian long-range drones damaged Wildberries distribution centers in Elektrostal, Kotovsk, and other cities. According to expert assessments, around 15% of the company's warehouse space was damaged, with losses exceeding 100 billion rubles.

Government support during the economic crisis has been limited to the possibility of deferring loan payments for six months. In the first half of 2026, the registration of new commercial enterprises in Russia dropped to its lowest level in the last 17 years. Only 66,700 new companies were registered, which is 23.6% less compared to the same period in 2025. During this time, 118,700 enterprises ceased operations, indicating that the number of liquidated companies nearly 1.8 times exceeded the number of new registrations.

Fuel prices have also risen: in Sevastopol, fuel costs increased by nearly 80% year-on-year, in the Republic of Tuva by more than 65%, and in Kamchatka by 18.5%. The acceleration of fuel price growth was recorded in 49 regions of the country. In June, the ruble exchange rate decreased by 10%, while the retail price of liquefied petroleum gas rose by another 12%.

The decline in entrepreneurial activity has continued for the third consecutive year, creating challenges for the country's economy as a whole.

In summary, the economic situation in Russia in the first half of 2026 shows serious signs of crisis, particularly due to the increase in bankruptcies and the decline in entrepreneurial activity. Growing tax pressure, inflation, and the consequences of the war create additional difficulties for businesses, which may lead to further reductions in economic activity in the future. These trends also indicate potential social consequences, as rising fuel prices and falling incomes may adversely affect the well-being of the population.