Russian lawmakers are proposing measures that would allow the state to take money from private bank accounts to help cover rising military spending and an expanding budget shortfall, according to a report citing remarks by a senior figure in the Russian Communist Party.

The proposal was raised by Gennady Zyuganov, who said that funds held by citizens and businesses in bank accounts—estimated at around 130 trillion rubles (about $1.6 trillion)—should be “mobilized” to address the country’s economic stress and the war-related fiscal burden. He argued that the president could execute the step quickly through a single decree, describing it as a wartime prerogative.

The comments prompted concern among parts of the business community, with fear that individuals and companies would move to withdraw assets or leave the country before any potential account restrictions or freezes. The reporting also said the finance ministry is preparing legislation that would increase the state’s ability to access private pension savings, with attention on raising state control over additional pools of money.

The push for extraordinary funding measures is framed amid worsening strain on Russia’s public finances. The report linked the budget pressure to damage to Russian infrastructure from Ukrainian drone strikes, which it said reduced gasoline production and contributed to fuel shortages. It described Russia’s deficit as reaching 6 trillion rubles (about $83 billion) by the end of May, while also pointing to the near depletion of the sovereign wealth fund.

Separately, it said President Vladimir Putin has publicly acknowledged fuel supply problems for the first time and that Russia has implemented temporary restrictions affecting gasoline and aviation fuel exports. The reporting also cited emergency declarations in occupied Crimea tied to fuel and power constraints, attributing those shortages to disrupted logistics and strikes on energy-linked infrastructure.

Zyuganov’s remarks highlight a broader theme in Russia’s wartime financing debate: as traditional funding sources tighten and industrial disruptions mount, proposals increasingly shift toward tapping private savings and financial accounts to sustain spending priorities.