Reports on the Russian economy vary wildly, with some claiming massive contraction and others significant growth. So, what's the truth? It really depends on how you look at it.

Do we define the economy by what benefits the general population—things like retail, consumer production, and so on? Or is it primarily about what benefits the state, such as weapons manufacturing and military enlistment?

If we focus on retail, the Russian economy is in a deep crisis. Western companies left, taking with them jobs and substantial revenue. In this sector, the Russian economy has shrunk considerably. Inflation has also made everything much more expensive. Russians are buying fewer and fewer capital goods due to significant economic uncertainty. While inflation might make revenue figures appear higher, people are actually buying less for their rubles.

https://www.csis.org/analysis/down-not-out-russian-economy-under-western-sanctions
https://www.yahoo.com/news/russians-struggle-crazy-prices-100018765.html

However, if we look at state employment (including soldiers) and weapons production, this sector has seen a sharp increase. There's so much work in this area that Russia can't grow its workforce from its own population alone. This is partly because at least 30,000 people join the army each month, and many are killed or severely wounded. Russia's military production is at maximum capacity. This doesn't benefit the population because Russia loses more people each month than it can produce for the army. So, while revenue in this area has increased in recent years, the economy, even for government work, is rapidly shrinking on balance. The output for the military, and more, is effectively lost within the same month.
Conclusion

My view is that the Russian economy is shrinking very rapidly. While they're producing a lot of weaponry, it's largely being lost within the same month. This doesn't benefit the population, and the war isn't yielding any spoils that can offset these losses. The war in Ukraine is like a bottomless pit where Russia's prosperity is draining away. Their vast natural resources are now being used in a senseless war.

The population is becoming impoverished and declining. North Korea will soon send tens of thousands of workers to support drone production. This is the only way Russia can keep its head above water.

https://babel.ua/en/news/118985-media-north-korea-to-send-over-20-000-workers-to-russian-drone-factory

Essentially, Ukraine is now at war with Russia and North Korea.

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