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Putin’s Defense Chief Warns Russia Faces “Storm With No End in Sight” Amid War and Sanctions
Russia is navigating one of the most turbulent chapters “in the history of humanity,” according to Sergei Chemezov, head of the state-run defense and industrial conglomerate Rostec, as the country struggles under the weight of war, sanctions, and economic isolation.
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Chemezov painted a bleak picture of Russia’s current state, likening it to a storm without a visible horizon in a column published by the Russian media outlet RBC on June 24.
“Being an optimist in such conditions is difficult,” he wrote. “This storm must be passed through with confidence and a clear understanding of direction. We simply must emerge from it as victors.”
Chemezov, a longtime Putin ally and one of Russia’s most influential industrial figures, argued that the country should abandon any illusions of catching up with Western technologies built over decades and backed by trillions in investment. Instead, he urged a pivot toward disruptive innovation.
“Russia should focus on artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, and the development of a high-tech industry,” he wrote, adding that these sectors offer the potential to build entirely new industries and escape the trap of playing technological catch-up.
Technological sovereignty and “cheap, long money”
At the heart of Chemezov’s vision lies the idea of “technological sovereignty” and aggressive import substitution. However, he warned that these goals will remain out of reach unless the Russian government directly intervenes to provide cheap, long-term financing for R&D and industrial modernization.
“It won’t be possible if the government doesn’t provide long-term, low-interest financing to invest in the development of new technologies and products,” he stated.
Chemezov noted that high interest rates are currently preventing Rostec’s enterprises from investing in science, modernization, and production growth. He emphasized that unless this changes, Russia’s domestic innovation push will stall.
New 2036 strategy for Rostec
Rostec recently adopted a long-term strategic roadmap through 2036, which Chemezov described as “ambitious.” The strategy calls for expanding the company’s product lineup and increasing its presence in both global defense and civilian markets.
To remain viable over the next 15 years, Chemezov argued, Russia must prioritize domestic production in high-tech sectors, invest heavily in basic and applied sciences, and develop a new generation of highly skilled engineers and researchers.
Ideology as infrastructure
But Chemezov also warned that economic and technological ambitions must be backed by a strong ideological foundation. He called on the Kremlin and Russia’s industrial elite to instill national values—such as patriotism, solidarity, justice, and service—into everyday life.
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“It is important not only to speak about our values, but to root them in the public consciousness and everyday life—showing young people how to act by our own behavior,” he concluded.
Earlier, Chemezov said that Russia has not yet had the chance to study captured British Challenger 2 tanks, but insisted, “It’s already clear that it’s a ‘cooking pot’ — not very suitable for real combat.”
