How long can Vladimir Putin afford to continue his war in Ukraine without inflicting economic pain on his own people? The narrative around Russia’s economic performance could hardly be more polarized. One camp claims the country is on the brink of collapse, the other that it is stronger than ever, buoyed even by the effect of Western sanctions. With state spending on defense now exceeding investment in sectors like education and health, some analysts are predicting a painful economic hangover after the war ends. DW Business speaks to Alexandra Prokopenko from the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, who formerly worked as an advisor to the Russian central bank.