“It looks semi-apocalyptic”: what a nearly empty shopping center in Moscow reveals about the Russian economy

Energetic pop music echoes through the lobby of a shiny shopping mall in a middle-class suburb of Moscow. But what should have been the soundtrack to the hustle and bustle of shoppers ends up playing to empty stores, many of them boarded up over the windows — a stark sign of Russia’s economic malaise.

The sprawling Goodzone shopping mall opened its doors in 2014 with great fanfare. It includes an eight-screen multiplex cinema, now deserted, with the lobby lights turned off. Despite remaining open seven days a week, the space, in the south of Moscow, appears to be slowly dwindling away, with few stores open and even fewer customers.

After the large-scale invasion of Ukraine, the exit of Western companies and the unprecedented sanctions imposed by the West, the Russian economy contradicted expectations, supported by a massive increase in military spending and greater oil exports to China and India.

However, the economy is beginning to show signs of increasing pressure, with GDP contracting by 1.8% in the first two months of 2026. Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged the problem at a government meeting on economic affairs in mid-April.

“Statistics show that economic growth has, unfortunately, been slowing down for two consecutive months,” Putin said, demanding explanations as to “why the trajectory of macroeconomic indicators is currently falling short of expectations.”

Russian Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov later criticized what he described as a lack of competent answers to Putin’s questions at the meeting, calling the situation “sad and worrying.”

In a speech to the State Duma (Russian parliament) last week, Zyuganov warned that the country could face a Bolshevik-style revolution if the government does not stop the weakening economy.

Without directly criticizing Putin — as is customary in the opposition controlled by the Kremlin —, he nevertheless pointed out flaws in the government.

“We have warned repeatedly: with this course, the economy will inevitably fail,” Zyuganov said.

Empty shopping center with “semi-apocalyptic” setting

Although there are no signs of mass social protests in Russia, and other shopping centers — such as the gigantic Aviapark, in northwest Moscow — appear to be maintaining good activity, several Goodzone workers describe to CNN, with concern, the lack of customers.

One of them is Ivan, a cashier at a store in one of Russia’s largest retail chains, who requested anonymity. This is his second job and he says he cannot risk losing it in the current context.

“Well, in terms of the economic situation, that says something about the state of the country,” Ivan notes, pointing to the cash register screen.

The monitor shows 13 transactions throughout the day — a total of just 3,417 rubles (about 42 euros). It’s a Thursday afternoon in late April, and Ivan says that in better times, the number would be closer to 300.

“(Goodzone) looks semi-apocalyptic,” he describes. “The mall is so big that you can get lost and get tired of walking. It seems to have been built for a huge flow of people, but I’ve never seen it like that.”

CNN has reached out to the mall’s management for comment. The website indicates that parts of the space are under renovation and that new operators are being introduced — something that CNN was unable to confirm on site. The same website advertises commercial spaces for rent at extremely low prices, starting from just 1 ruble (about 0.01 euros) per square meter. Many of the empty stores were previously owned by Western brands that have since left.

Two employees at a souvenir shop, who also requested anonymity, say that there are hardly any customers coming in anymore.

“Basically, we are using this store as a warehouse,” says one of them. He adds that, after the covid-19 pandemic, many companies switched to online commerce, but the business ended up recovering — until the invasion of Ukraine, in February 2022.

“After 2022, purchasing power decreased”, he explains. “We no longer believe it will get better. We just hope it doesn’t get worse.”

The colleague agrees: “It’s the only desire we have, because prices are rising every day, but salaries are not increasing.”

The two also say that the boss is facing difficulties with tax increases. “The owner is desperate because taxes went up this year and now he has difficulty raising the money to pay. It’s very difficult for business owners”, says one of them.

“The growth cycle is over”

To raise revenue, Russia last year raised income and corporate taxes, with VAT rising to 22% from January 1, 2026.

Ruben Enikolopov, research professor at the Barcelona School of Economics, explains that at the start of the invasion of Ukraine, the Kremlin had low public debt and large reserves, channeling money into the economy through military spending.

“It works for some time, but it cannot continue indefinitely. Public spending helped the economy, but now the growth cycle is over. Reserves have decreased and revenue needs to be found, hence the increase in taxes”, he explains.

According to the economist, although Moscow benefited from high energy prices during the war in the Middle East, Ukrainian attacks on the Russian supply chain — especially refineries — reduced the amount of oil available for sale.

Last month, Economic Development Minister Maxim Reshetnikov publicly acknowledged that recent tax changes had an impact on businesses.

Russia has drawn on its reserves, he adds, but “now we see that they are largely depleted and that the macroeconomic situation is much more complex.” The government’s main task, he says, is to help companies adapt.

Rich richer, poor poorer

But it won’t be simple — in part due to state-imposed internet and mobile network outages that have plagued Moscow and other major cities in recent months.

Oksana from St. Petersburg says these restrictions make it difficult to communicate with customers at the car repair company where she works, as well as place orders. Putin defends these measures as necessary for public security.

“I’m a sales manager and I need to meet with clients, but sometimes internet outages force me to work from home to have access to Wi-Fi,” she says, requesting anonymity. “These days, everything is done online, and there are days when customers simply can’t place orders.”

Despite the restrictions and the growing tax burden, Russian billionaires saw their combined wealth increase by 11% last year, despite the sanctions, according to Forbes Russia.

Alexandra Prokopenko, a researcher at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center in Berlin, says it’s “no secret”: “The war has increased inequality in the Russian population. We’re seeing the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.”

This impact is felt particularly hard in Golitsyno, a small town in the Moscow region, where the majority live on low incomes. Lyubov Sergeevna tells CNN that prices are soaring due to the war.

She and her husband live off their pensions, which amount to around 64,000 rubles a month (approximately 790 euros). She says she feels grateful to not be alone: ​​”Then we can manage. If she were alone, the rent alone is 8,200 rubles… It’s harder.”

“I’m pessimistic about prices,” he adds, believing they will continue to rise until the end of the war.

Still, even in the face of difficulties, he expresses support for what Russia calls a “special military operation”: “We will endure for the cause. There is no other option.”