Russia's War Economy Shows Signs of Strain

Prices of milk, potatoes, and butter are soaring in Russia. Retailers are beefing up security to prevent shoplifting. Mortgage rates are skyrocketing as the sales of new apartments plummet. More than 1,000 days since Moscow launched its all-out invasion of Ukraine, Russia has transformed its economy, retooling it to fuel the war effort and cope with Western sanctions. Government spending on things like tank production, missile manufacturing, and military uniforms has spurred growth across the country. Extraordinarily high wages paid to volunteer…