Russia Struggles to Sell Seized Assets to Bolster War Budget

Russia seized a record amount of assets last year but is struggling to profit from their sale, with the failed auction of a major Moscow airport underscoring the challenges the state faces in topping up its coffers with the proceeds.

The Kremlin’s effort to monetize its ownership in Domodedovo Airport, one of Russia’s busiest, fell flat on Tuesday after the state sought at least 132 billion rubles ($1.7 billion) for the property, which would have eclipsed last year’s total proceeds from privatizations but didn’t attract a single qualifying bid.