eli5 – Russia has an economy smaller than Canada or Italy. How does it continue to be a threatening, great power without going bankrupt?

Question

eli5 – Russia has an economy smaller than Canada or Italy. How does it continue to be a threatening, great power without going bankrupt?

In: 808

Answer 1

TL;DR – nukes, a big army, and the will to use force, all funded by selling oil and commodities.