RUSSIA’S GOLD SHOCK: NATIONAL WEALTH FUND NEARS CRITICAL DEPLETION 🇷🇺💰
🌍Global Financial Markets / Moscow
The Vanishing Safety Net
🇷🇺 Russia is facing a severe financial crunch as its National Wealth Fund (NWF) gold reserves have plummeted by a staggering 71% in less than four years. New data from the Russian Ministry of Finance reveals a brutal reality: the gold cushion that once anchored the nation’s economy is rapidly evaporating.
The Brutal Statistics
May 2022: The fund held 554.9 metric tons of gold.
January 1, 2026: Holdings have dropped to just 160.2 tons.
Liquid Assets: Total unspent reserves (Gold +🇨🇳 Chinese Yuan) now stand at 4.1 trillion rubles, a shadow of pre-war levels.
Why the Vault is Emptying
The Kremlin has been forced to liquidate gold and foreign currency at a record pace—currently 12.8 billion rubles per day—to offset a sharp decline in oil and gas revenues and to sustain massive military and infrastructure spending. Sanctions and falling oil prices have left Moscow with few alternatives but to dip into its "rainy day" fund.
Expert Analysis: What’s Next?
Financial analysts warn that if current market conditions persist, Russia could drain another 60% (approx. 2.5 trillion rubles) of its remaining reserves by the end of 2026. This would leave the country with dangerously thin financial defenses against further economic shocks.
