In Russia, a substantial challenge persists: every year, an estimated 2 to 2.5 million square meters of housing are deemed unfit for living and must be replaced. The broader program aimed at eliminating these emergency homes has not yet achieved a stable balance between what is needed and what is feasible. This overview comes from a recent interview with Marat Khusnullin, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, highlighting the ongoing strain of unsafe housing on national housing policy. The goal is clear: accelerate replacement to protect residents and reduce the number of precarious dwellings that accumulate each year. The figure is not merely a statistic; it represents families, neighborhoods, and the urban fabric that depends on safe and durable homes. In context, the process is framed as a mandatory shift from temporary, emergency accommodation to long-term, stable housing for millions of Russians.
According to Khusnullin, approximately 2 million square meters of housing are deemed unsafe each year. If the current trajectory persists, an additional 15 to 20 million square meters will be added to existing emergency facilities by 2030. The imperative is to initiate and accelerate the replacement of these structures. He explained that, hypothetically, if nationwide construction reaches 110 million square meters annually, at least 2 to 2.5 million square meters should be allocated specifically to replacing emergency housing. This framing puts a concrete number on the policy’s ambition and underscores the scale of the logistical and financial work required to reclaim healthy living spaces across the country. The underlying message is not only about quantity but about the quality and safety of homes where people live and raise families.
Khusnullin stressed that the housing program designed to address urgent needs remains unbalanced with respect to funding flows, regional capacities, and the speed of implementation. The concern is that without a more synchronized approach, the transition from dilapidated dwellings to modern housing could lag, leaving vulnerable households in limbo for longer than necessary. The plan calls for aligning priorities, streamlining administrative steps, and ensuring that funds move efficiently from federal coffers to regional projects, so that the pace of replacement matches the scale of demand. The overall aim is a coherent, predictable path from identification of unsafe housing to its complete replacement in a predictable timeframe, reducing uncertainty for residents and local authorities alike.
Over the next six years, a total of 330 billion rubles were allocated to these efforts. The funding structure was designed to balance responsibilities between regions and the federation with a 60/40 co-financing ratio. This financial arrangement signals a shared commitment across levels of government to mobilize resources, leverage regional capabilities, and ensure that communities with the greatest needs receive timely support. The strategy recognizes that decentralized execution, paired with federal guidance and oversight, can better align local housing programs with national targets. As the replacement program proceeds, the emphasis remains on leveraging this funding to maximize impact, minimize delays, and catalyze improvements in urban infrastructure that extend beyond housing alone.
It has been reported that Russia houses more than one million residents in emergency homes, underscoring the human dimension of the policy. The government’s challenge is to translate financial commitments into tangible, on-the-ground results: replacing unsafe housing with durable, energy-efficient, and climate-resilient homes; upgrading utilities and social services in affected neighborhoods; and ensuring that vulnerable populations have access to stable housing solutions. The scale of this task requires careful planning, real-time monitoring, and transparent reporting so residents can see progress and trusted officials can adjust strategies as needed. The human story remains central—families displaced by unsafe housing deserve reliable shelter, access to services, and the confidence that replacement programs will deliver concrete outcomes within reasonable timelines.
Earlier, Khusnullin announced the development of a master plan for Avdeevka. He emphasized that the master plan for Avdiivka would begin to take shape within the coming year. The city’s immediate priority is to determine how many residents will remain through the winter and how to ensure the continued provision of essential services during the transition. This planning phase is about safeguarding continuity of care for residents, coordinating housing, utilities, and social support where needed, and laying a clear path for the town’s future development. The city’s leadership faces the dual challenge of protecting vulnerable households while laying groundwork for long-term growth and resilience in the face of changing demographics and infrastructure needs.
In another related update, it was noted that residents in Novosibirsk were relocated from a building with serious structural cracks. The relocation process highlights the ongoing vigilance required to identify unsafe buildings, perform timely assessments, and ensure that residents have access to safe, habitable alternatives. The broader implication is that structural integrity and safety must remain at the forefront of municipal planning, with contingencies in place to respond quickly to emerging risks in residential stock. By sharing lessons learned from such relocations, cities across the federation can refine their own approaches to risk assessment, temporary housing arrangements, and the long-term replacement of unsafe housing stock. (citation: regional authorities and housing monitors).