<br><div><aside class="gnt_em gnt_em__fp gnt_em_vp__tp gnt_em__el" aria-label="Video - Hundreds take part in funeral of Ukrainian soldier who fought in the battle for Andriivka"/><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">Russia must increase military spending by up to 70% because of the war that has been "unleashed against us," Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday.</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">Also Thursday, hundreds of flights were delayed at Moscow-area airports after what Russian officials described as a "massive cyberattack from abroad."</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">The Russian Defense Ministry released documents saying defense spending could rise by more than 68% in 2024, to $111.15 billion. That's about 6% of Russia's GDP and represents more than the total spent on social programs, the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2023/09/28/russia-to-hike-defense-spending-by-almost-70-in-2024-ministry-a82589" data-t-l=":b|e|k|${u}" class="gnt_ar_b_a" rel="noopener">Moscow Times</a> said. Military spending is set to total about three times more than education, environmental protection and health care spending combined.</p><aside aria-label="advertisement" class="gnt_m gnt_x gnt_x__lbl gnt_x__al"/><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">Russia's Central Bank has warned that economic growth has slowed and inflation is rising above the bank's target of 4%. But the Kremlin and President Vladimir Putin say they remain <a target="_blank" href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/ukraine/2023/09/27/ukraine-russia-war-live-updates/70978356007/" data-t-l=":b|e|k|${u}" class="gnt_ar_b_a" rel="noopener">committed to the war</a> and military spending at whatever the cost.</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">"It is obvious that such an increase is absolutely necessary, because we are in a state of hybrid war that has been unleashed against us," Peskov said.</p><aside aria-label="advertisement" class="gnt_m gnt_x gnt_x__lbl gnt_x__al"/><p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><strong class="gnt_ar_b_al">US tried to 'trigger panic':</strong><a target="_blank" href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/ukraine/2023/09/27/ukraine-russia-war-live-updates/70978356007/" rel="noopener" data-t-l=":b|e|spike click:8|${u}" class="gnt_ar_b_a">Russia accuses US in attack on Crimea base</a></p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><strong>Developments:</strong></p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">∎ Russian artillery pounded a residential area of Kherson on Thurdsay, killing three women as they walked down a street, Internal Affairs Minister Igor Klimenko said.</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">∎ The European Union Council agreed to extend temporary protection until March 2025 for more than 4 million Ukrainian refugees who fled to the EU since...</p></div> <style> .wrapper { text-align: center; } </style> <div class="wrapper"> <a class="button" href ="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/ukraine/2023/09/28/ukraine-russia-war-live-updates/70988906007/">Read more <span>➤</span></a> </div>
