The Wall Street Journal • 2:03 • intermediate • News
Q1. What percentage of Russia's GDP was spent on the military in 2025?
6 words to learn — tap cards to flip and save favorites.
/ʌnˈprɛsɪˌdɛntɪd/
Speaker: pronunciation • Heart: favorite
Definition
Never done or known before; without previous example.
Example
The unprecedented rise in inflation has left many families struggling to make ends meet.
Tap to flip back
/ˌriːdɪstrɪˈbjuːʃən/
Speaker: pronunciation • Heart: favorite
Definition
The act of distributing something in a different way, especially to achieve a more equitable allocation.
Example
The government announced a redistribution of wealth to support the lower-income families affected by the crisis.
Tap to flip back
/ˌmoʊbɪlaɪˈzeɪʃən/
Speaker: pronunciation • Heart: favorite
Definition
The act of assembling and making both troops and supplies ready for war.
Example
The mobilization of resources was crucial for the success of the military operation.
Tap to flip back
/ɪnˈsɛntɪv/
Speaker: pronunciation • Heart: favorite
Definition
A thing that motivates or encourages one to do something.
Example
The promise of bonuses served as an incentive for employees to work harder.
Tap to flip back
/ˈkæʒuəltiːz/
Speaker: pronunciation • Heart: favorite
Definition
People killed or injured in a war or accident.
Example
The war resulted in heavy casualties on both sides, leading to widespread mourning.
Tap to flip back
/ˈpɪvɪtɪd/
Speaker: pronunciation • Heart: favorite
Definition
To turn or rotate, especially around a central point; to change direction or focus.
Example
The company pivoted its business model to adapt to the changing market conditions.
Tap to flip back
Russia spent around 8% of its GDP on its military in 2025. And while much of that money went to drones, tanks, missiles, and other weapons for Putin's war against Ukraine, billions are also being spent on manpower. As fighting
aged men leave for the battlefield or flee the country, [music] unprecedented wartime cash is flowing in, dramatically reshaping both the local economy and the way of life. It is a redistribution of resources from one part of society to
another because the regions that are recruiting the most and where we have the most military casualties are usually the poorer regions. It can make a huge difference for the economies of these Constantine Osadov, a former conscript soldier turned
actor, opposed the war from day one. [music] When mobilization began in September 2022, he fled the country immediately. It's my father, my mother, my brother. Back in Ulanu Day, mobilization was deeply unpopular, leading to protests. So, authorities increasingly
pivoted to a different approach. Ads promising large sums of money and other benefits began appearing online and on billboards across the city, signaling a new recruitment drive. This flyer shows an AI soldier with keys to a new flat
and a slogan, service is caring for your family. With so much of the country's economy now dependent on this conflict, experts say the incentive to keep fighting is [music] baked into the system. If the war in Ukraine ends,
places uh such as Ulan, this will mean that the influx of cash uh suddenly stops. And I think that the outcome will be an economic crisis in these places.
