Sweden's finance minister, Elisabeth Svantesson, has stated that the decline in Russia's economic health is evident through nighttime satellite imagery comparing Moscow's brightness in 2021 and 2023. She argues that official inflation figures from Russia's central bank are understated, with the real inflation likely much higher than the reported 9.5%. Svantesson emphasizes that decreased light emissions from Moscow indicate reduced economic activity, contrasting sharply with pre-war figures, which she argues reflect a struggling economy amid ongoing sanctions from the West following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Elisabeth Svantesson emphasized that comparing nighttime satellite photos of Moscow reveals a stark decline in economic activity, contrasting the city’s brightness in 2021 to its darkness in 2023.
She pointed out the discrepancy between Russia’s reported inflation rate of 9.5% and the main interest rate of 21%, questioning the accuracy of official statistics.
Svantesson highlighted that decreasing light emissions from Moscow indicate a struggling economy, as recorded in nighttime satellite images, asserting that the reality is much bleaker than portrayed.
The finance minister concluded that the economic situation in Russia is dire, stating, 'It's very clear that the Russian economy is definitely not as strong as Putin wants us to believe.'
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