Russia's public external debt rose to $61.97 billion as of February 1, 2026, exceeding the $60 billion mark for the first time in nearly two decades. The last time a comparable level was recorded was in the mid-2000s, according to statistics from the Russian Ministry of Finance.

For comparison, on January 1, 2006, the state's external liabilities stood at $76.5 billion. Just a year later, the figure fell to $52 billion, after which it remained below the $60 billion mark for many years. Thus, the current increase marks the first time the debt has exceeded this threshold since 2006.

Despite the increase, the external debt remains moderate by international standards. Russian authorities traditionally emphasize a conservative approach to borrowing. Finance Minister Anton Siluanov previously stated that total government debt should not exceed 20% of GDP, calling such a debt burden one of the structural advantages of the Russian economy. According to the ministry's assessment, current parameters remain within the stated targets, and maintaining macro-financial stability remains a priority.