@iska@mstdn.starnix.network If you take a look at the data, Russian economy was already showing signs of slow down before the very beginning of this war in 2014, some sanctions were imposed, nothing THAT major, but COVID pandemic was a huge blow. For the world economy in general, but especially for Russia. They've needed to give this war which was no longer on the radar for common folk a new spin — to justify the lowering standards of living, not the other way round. Now everyone can blame that on the sanctions.