Russians are losing income and unable to service loans
Russians are increasingly turning to pawnshops due to a lack of funds for daily expenses and loan servicing. In 2026, this trend continues to grow by 7-10% monthly.
This is reported by RBK-Ukraine, citing the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine.
Read also: “Oil paralysis” in the Baltic: Russia loses over $70 million a day
Why Russians choose pawnshops
According to intelligence, the main reasons for the mass shift of Russian citizens to pawnshop services are significant income reduction, high bank rates, and damaged credit histories.
In 2025, the flow of clients in this sector increased by 15%, and the net profit of pawnshops rose by almost 50% compared to the previous year.
Experts estimate that this year, the pawnshop market in Russia could reach 1 trillion rubles. The sector is developing so rapidly that some market players are already negotiating to buy banks.
Features of borrowing
Currently, the number of loans amounts to 2-2.5 million per year, while the average loan amount is constantly increasing.
As collateral, Russians are increasingly using cars, jewelry, and luxury watches.
“The population’s appeal to pawnshops in Russia indicates a lack of trust in the official banking credit policy,” the agency notes, adding that the rejection rate in such establishments is minimal, at only 0.4%.
At the same time, according to the Central Bank of Russia, in January 2026 alone, Russians withdrew a record amount from bank cards since 2022 – 1.6 trillion rubles.
“Pawnshops in Russia are becoming a mass financial instrument,” analysts emphasize.
Economic crisis in Russia
Recall that the Russian economy continues to suffer significant losses amid sanctions and successful attacks on energy infrastructure. As reported by RBK-Ukraine, the oil giant “Rosneft” lost almost 73% of its net profit by the end of 2025, which the company’s head called an “ideal storm.”
Also, due to recent drone attacks on the ports in Ust-Luga and Primorsk, there has been a collapse in maritime oil exports, costing the Kremlin over $1 billion in just one week.
Moreover, on April 1, it became known about the “oil paralysis” in the Baltic. Due to the halt of oil and liquefied gas (LNG) exports through Baltic ports, the aggressor country is losing over $70 million daily.
