{
  "id": 1521732,
  "title": "Russia’s biggest state development corp fires Andrei Klepach, its chief economist, for saying in May that Moscow is losing its war of attrition with the West, and losing it ‘in some ways’ to Ukraine",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/russias-biggest-state-development-corp-fires-andrei-klepach-its-chief",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-17T17:07:22.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Meduza (English)",
    "slug": "meduza-english",
    "url": "https://meduza.io/en/feature/2026/08/17/russia-s-biggest-state-development-corp-fires-andrei-klepach-its-chief-economist-for-saying-in-may-that-moscow-is-losing-its-war-of-attrition-with-the-west-and-losing-it-in-some-ways-to-ukraine"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Ved.RF, Russia's largest state development corporation, has terminated the employment of its chief economist, Andrey Klepach, for delivering \"harsh personal assessments\" of the country's economic and political situation. Klepach's dismissal came after he made remarks during a meeting of the Moscow Exchange’s Nikitsky Club, claiming that Russia was losing its \"war of attrition\" with the West and even losing it to Ukraine. His comments, made in May, gained significant attention this month, leading to his firing on August 16. Klepach's statements highlighted concerns about falling behind technologically and economically, with potential consequences for the nation's social fabric. Despite his accurate and cautious approach, Klepach found himself in hot water due to the disagreement with Ved.RF's position.",
  "summary": "The Russian state development corporation VEB.RF has fired its chief economist, Andrey Klepach. The corporation dismissed him over “harsh personal assessments” of Russia’s economic and political development — views that did not match VEB.RF’s own position, an acquaintance of Klepach’s told the Russian business daily Vedomosti. VEB.RF head Igor Shuvalov removed Klepach from his post after a phone…",
  "key_points": [
    "Andrei Klepach fired as Ved.RF chief economist",
    "Criticized Russia losing war of attrition to West, Ukraine",
    "Dismissed on August 16 for harsh economic assessments"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Euromaidan Press",
        "title": "$3,032 to kill a soldier on whom Russia spends $65,000: Ukraine’s new system puts a price on every strike",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/3-032-to-kill-a-soldier-on-whom-russia-spends-65-000-ukraines-new",
        "published": "2026-08-17T17:08:43.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Kyiv Independent",
        "title": "Ukraine's acting police chief reveals scale of draft evasion investigations",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/ukraines-acting-police-chief-reveals-scale-of-draft-evasion",
        "published": "2026-08-17T17:22:49.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}