According to a report in the Financial Times, Russia is preparing to allocate significant funds for its military efforts in a potential war with Ukraine in 2024. To raise the necessary funds, the Russian government is increasingly relying on irregular sources of revenue, including one-time taxes and fees, and what are referred to as "voluntary donations" that Western businesses must pay when exiting Russia.

In 2024, the Russian government's financing plans involve irregular revenues to the budget reaching a historic high of 2.52 trillion rubles. This funding will come from various sources, including 800 billion rubles in social contributions from Russian companies. An additional 2 billion rubles are expected to come from new export duties tied to exchange rates, "voluntary donations" from Western companies, tax increases, reduced subsidies for energy producers, and higher utility tariffs. Excise taxes on alcohol and tobacco are also set to triple in 2024, contributing to these revenues.

However, analysts are skeptical about the feasibility of Russia raising all the required funds. There is concern that Russia may fall short of its projected revenues by about 1 trillion rubles due to an overly optimistic economic forecast. In such a scenario, the Russian government may resort to imposing additional one-time fees, as it has done in the past.

This information suggests that Russia is making significant financial preparations for potential military actions in 2024, although the ability to secure all the necessary funds remains uncertain.