In Russia, demand for antidepressants such as Prozac has surged dramatically as the fourth anniversary of Vladimir Putin's illegal invasion of Ukraine approaches. Analytics company DSM reports that 22.3 million packages of antidepressant drugs were sold in 2025, equivalent to £200 million—nearly double the amount purchased in 2022. This spike signals a deepening mental health crisis amid mounting economic pressures and societal fears.
The crisis is closely tied to Russia's spiralling economy, where funds are being diverted to support Putin's war machine. Welfare and education spending have reportedly been slashed in favor of military aggression, exacerbating hardships for ordinary citizens. Everyday essentials have become unaffordable, with the cost of potatoes skyrocketing by 167% due to failed harvests, leaving many unable to purchase basic food items.
A pervasive culture of fear has also contributed to the mental health strain, with over 20,000 Russians arrested for anti-war activities between 2022 and 2025. This crackdown has stifled dissent and heightened anxiety across the population as the prolonged conflict takes its toll.
Russia's economy continues to suffer from Western sanctions imposed following the Ukraine invasion on February 24, 2022. The European Union has levied 19 rounds of sanctions on Moscow since then, targeting sectors including luxury and consumer goods, aviation, and energy. These measures have battered key revenue streams, with oil and gas income plummeting to a five-year low of 393.3 billion rubles (£377 billion) in January.
While Russia's economy demonstrated relative resilience during the first three years of the conflict, it slowed sharply in 2025. Interest rates spiked to their highest level since the 2000s, further squeezing households and businesses already grappling with inflation and resource shortages.
As the invasion's fourth anniversary looms, the combination of economic woes, repression, and wartime sacrifices appears to be pushing Russians toward a breaking point, reflected starkly in the pharmacy sales data.
