Russian regional governors have significantly increased their security expenditures since the onset of the full-scale war against Ukraine, nearly doubling their previous year's spending.
Since the initiation of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, regional governors have escalated their budgets for personal security measures. According to data from the Tenderplan procurement management system, the total expenditure from regional budgets on personal security grew from RUB 59.7 million (approximately US$770,000) in 2021 to RUB 91.6 million (about US$1.2 million) in 2022. This transformation indicates a notable emphasis on securing political figures within Russian territories amidst ongoing conflicts.
The increase in security spending reflects the heightened sense of insecurity and threat perceived by these governors. Notably, the shift in budget allocation trends highlights a greater focus on personal safety by regional leadership, resulting in more governors contemplating hiring additional security personnel since the war escalated. In 2021, the number of tenders for security services published on the state procurement website was only eight, but this figure has climbed to thirteen in 2022, signaling a trend toward increasing personal and regional security measures.
