# Russian economy: SANCTIONS backfire, return to growth, investment surge

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-duran-on-odysee-5399169/russian-economy-sanctions-backfire-return-to-growth-investment-surge
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-duran-on-odysee-5399169/russian-economy-sanctions-backfire-return-to-growth-investment-surge.md
Podcast: [The Duran on Odysee](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-duran-on-odysee-5399169)
Published: 2026-05-16T07:23:21+00:00
Episode link: https://odysee.com/russian-economy-sanctions-backfire%2C:ec8b0016b181865d607c601461f26dd214101382
Audio file: https://player.odycdn.com/api/v3/streams/free/russian-economy-sanctions-backfire,/ec8b0016b181865d607c601461f26dd214101382/aa439b.mp4
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-duran-on-odysee-5399169/episodes/russian-economy-sanctions-backfire-return-to-growth-investment-surge
Duration seconds: 759

## Resource

The Duran: Episode 2520 Despite repeated Western claims that Russia is on the brink of economic collapse, the latest data tells a very different story as the Russian economy returned to growth in March 2026 with real incomes continuing to rise and investment now reaching 23% of GDP. Alex Christoforou and Alexander Mercouris of The Duran unpack the stunning paradox at the heart of the sanctions regime: the very measures designed to cripple the Russian economy are instead driving a domestic investment surge that is making Russians wealthier, with GDP per capita now approaching levels comparable to Britain. Could it be that a decade of Western pressure has quietly produced the most resilient version of the Russian economy in modern history? 00:00:00 Introduction: Is the Russian Economy on the Brink? 00:00:30 Q1 Contraction Revised: January and February Figures 00:00:55 March Rebound: Economy Grows 1.8% Year on Year 00:01:30 Overall Q1 Performance: 0.3% Contraction 00:02:11 Growth Forecast Revised Down to 0.4% for 2025 00:02:43 Oil Prices and the Budget: Stabilization Underway 00:03:17 Putin Meets Economics Minister Rashettnikov 00:04:02 Real Incomes Rising as Inflation Falls 00:04:44 Investment at 23% of GDP: A Long Term Growth Driver 00:06:16 Why Sanctions Are Driving Investment Growth 00:07:15 The Sanctions Paradox: Capital Stays in Russia 00:07:46 EU 21st Sanctions Package Targets Shadow Fleet 00:08:08 Britain and Russian Tankers: 238 Pass Unchallenged 00:09:04 Russian Economy Up 20% Since 2016 00:09:50 GDP Per Capita: Russia Now Rivals Britain ***THE DURAN SHOP*** https://theduranshop.com ***REVERSE GEAR SHOP*** Athleisure with Style https://reversegear.shop/ ***THE DURAN COMMUNITY ON LOCALS*** https://theduran.locals.com Join Now Get 1 Month Free Trial ***OUR OFFICIA…

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