The Russian economy is unlikely to face a sudden collapse similar to that which occurred in the late 1980s before the dissolution of the Soviet Union. This opinion was expressed on the air of [Latvian Radio](https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/ekonomika/10.08.2026-vesturnieks-maz-ticams-ka-krievijas-ekonomika-nonaks-tada-stavokli-ka-pirms-psrs-sabrukuma.a658084/) by military historian and researcher at the National Defense Academy Valdis Kuzmin. According to him, it is not worth expecting a single turning point after which the economy will collapse quickly. > “There will not be one big turning point here. The Russian economy will not collapse in the literal sense of the word,” Kuzmin said. The historian believes that Russia still has sufficient internal resources and retains the ability to export petroleum products, which allows the economy to remain stable despite external pressure. At the same time, in his assessment, the situation is gradually worsening. > “The economic situation is slowly but steadily deteriorating every day,” he noted. Speaking about the consequences of Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian territory, Kuzmin pointed to attacks on the warehouses of the largest Russian marketplace Wildberries. According to him, such logistical facilities require significant investments, and their damage creates additional economic losses. In the historian's opinion, such events can affect not only the economy but also public sentiment. > “With each passing day, with each such strike, with each column of smoke in the sky that we see in videos on Russian social media, Russian society begins to ask itself: maybe we can do things differently,” Kuzmin stated. He also suggested that changes in public sentiment may manifest during elections. > “We will see this in the elections. Of course, the election results will be fabricated, there is no doubt about that. But what is important is whether the desire of Russian society to change something will strengthen during the elections, or whether people will think that they can continue to live as they did before February 2022,” the historian said. In Kuzmin's opinion, the key factor will not be the likelihood of a sharp economic crisis, but the gradual accumulation of economic problems and their impact on societal moods. The historian believes that the main challenge for Russia will not be a sudden economic crash, but a prolonged gradual deterioration of the situation.