denkfabrik Russia Digest · 17 August 2026 17 August 2026 Russia enters 2026 with momentum fading — Q1 showed the first annual GDP contraction in three years. Inflation held flat at 6.0% in July but gasoline prices accelerated sharply (+25.9% YoY) from refinery drone strikes. The Bank of Russia cut rates to 14.0% in July,…