Top Russian Economist Replaced After Warning of Economic Costs of Ukraine War

Andrei Klepach, the chief economist of Russia’s state-owned bank VEB, was dismissed after remarks warning that Russia is losing the broader economic and technological contest tied to the war in Ukraine. Reports said Klepach’s comments included a warning that mounting costs could trigger a major “social crisis.” Coverage described him as predicting Russia would not prevail in a prolonged “war of attrition,” despite Kremlin expectations that the conflict would end with a collapse of Ukraine or its backers.