The Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media of the Russian Federation is signaling a renewed resolve to maintain state subsidies for Russian Post. This approach is framed around protecting the continued delivery of socially important postal services for residents, a point emphasized by Minister Maksut Shadayev during a session in the State Duma and reported by Interfax. The policy shift follows a period when government support for Russian Post was paused in 2014, but the ministry argues that the postal operator still plays a vital social role by guaranteeing a broad spectrum of services across Russia, including many remote and sparsely populated regions where Russian Post acts as the sole carrier and a critical facilitator of local communications infrastructure. That is why its network is deemed indispensable to the country’s social and economic fabric.
The minister stated that the social function of Russian Post is central not only to ensuring accessibility through post offices in the most isolated settlements but also to maintaining affordable tariffs for regulated services. He underscored that it would be unacceptable to remove these tariffs or render essential services unaffordable for the Post. In his view, simply closing post offices is not a viable option; the only sustainable way to preserve the network is to reintroduce direct state subsidies that provide steady financial support rather than episodic funding on a sporadic basis. The absence of ongoing government backing would impede progress and could threaten the continuity of services. The ministry’s plan envisions long-term subsidies designed to sustain the social function rather than deliver occasional, one-off payments, signaling a durable commitment to preserving essential postal services for the population.
At this moment, the Ministry of Digital Development is calculating the amount of subsidy required to offset losses associated with providing unprofitable social services. Once these calculations are completed, the ministry plans to propose continuing financing such activities from the state budget. Subsidies are conceived as a crucial support mechanism, yet Shadayev emphasized that they are not a substitute for improving efficiency at Russian Post. The goal remains clear: to push for greater efficiency, accelerate the adoption of digital solutions, and optimize logistics to ensure the organization can operate more effectively in a changing environment.
In late January, Mikhail Volkov, the Director General of Russian Post, discussed ongoing efforts to reduce the company’s debt burden as part of a broader reform agenda. Earlier, MP Khinshtein highlighted concerns about the risk of revenue erosion facing the postal service, stressing the need for reforms and prudent management to maintain financial stability. The overarching message from these discussions is that subsidies can provide a bridge while structural improvements take hold, ensuring residents continue to receive essential postal services during the transition. The emphasis remains on a balanced approach that preserves service access and affordability while pursuing efficiency, innovation, and better governance across the postal network.