The study provides a comprehensive analysis of the Crimean War’s impact (1853–1856) on the regional economy of the Russian Empire, focusing on resource mobilization, sectoral transformations, and socio-economic consequences. Employing an interdisciplinary approach that integrates economic history, statistics, and archival research—including unpublished documents from RGIA, GARK, and other archives—the author reveals a dramatic decline in agriculture (30–35%), collapse of foreign trade (80–85%), and hyperinflation (50–60%) due to requisitions, labor mobilization, and naval blockades. Regional disparities are highlighted: Crimea lost 40% of its livestock, while the Urals tripled military output at the expense of civilian industries. Social repercussions included demographic crises (15–20% drop in birth rates) and anti-requisition protests. Long-term effects accelerated reforms like the abolition of serfdom and railroad expansion. The research reframes the war as a pivotal moment in Russia’s economic modernization, offering fresh insights for comparative studies of 19th-century conflicts.
Andrey Kozlov (Thu,) studied this question.