Economist: Russian self-harm from sanctions outweighs Western impact

Vasily Astrov of the Vienna Institute for International Economic Comparison argues that Russia's economic woes are largely self-inflicted, with domestic policy choices exacerbating the impact of Western sanctions. The claim is an expert opinion, not a new development, but it adds to the narrative of Russian economic strain amid the Ukraine war. This matters as it could influence Western policy expectations regarding sanctions effectiveness.