The Tomsk region
Sergei Zhvachkin, who announced his resignation first, led the Tomsk region for a decade. He noted that Vladimir Putin supported his position and expressed gratitude for that backing. Zhvachkin thanked residents for their support and for constructive criticism during his time in office. He added that after stepping down, he did not plan to leave the region entirely. He observed that he turned 65 on January 20 and acknowledged that many leaders reach an age where it is right to make room for younger colleagues. He cited a law limiting governors to two terms and said he would honor it, stressing that he had never sought a vacant chair or clung to power.
Zhvachkin has been in office since 2012 and won a second term in 2017 with a clear majority of 60.58 percent. Before becoming governor, he spent much of his career in the oil and gas sector, led the Tomskgaz and Tomskgazprom companies, and served as a deputy in the regional Legislative Duma.
Kirov region
Igor Vasilyev, the governor of the Kirov region, also announced his departure. He tied the decision to the approaching end of his term and said he planned to continue contributing at the federal level. He stated that his request to work for the country’s development had been supported by the president and thanked the regional administration and mayors for their joint efforts. The region has seen new kindergartens and schools, expanded opportunities for additional education, and a strengthened healthcare system. Vasilyev previously led Rosreestr and was appointed acting governor of the Kirov region on July 28, 2016. In the early elections held on September 10, 2017, he received 64.03 percent of the vote, running as a United Russia candidate.
Saratov region
Valery Radaev, the head of the Saratov region, also announced an early departure. He stated that after ten years in office he would not seek another term during the upcoming regional election cycle and intended to focus on a different area of work. Radaev thanked the people of Saratov for their collaboration and support and expressed appreciation for the president’s trust. He became acting governor in March 2012 and, after an expanded powers decision by the regional Duma in April 2012, solidified his role. On September 10, 2017, he won the governorship with 74.63 percent of the vote.
Republic of Mari El
Alexander Evstifeev, who has led Mari El since 2017, announced his resignation. He said he asked the president to accept his resignation and thanked the president and residents for backing initiatives in the republic over the past five years. Evstifeev emphasized that their collective work had achieved meaningful results and that the republic’s continued development would contribute to the country’s well-being. Evstifeev took over as acting president after Leonid Markelov’s resignation in April 2017 and was elected president in September 2017 with a strong vote share and turnout.
Ryazan Oblast
Nikolai Lyubimov, the governor of Ryazan, announced he would not stand for another term as regional chairman. He noted that his term of office was nearing its end and expressed gratitude to his team and to every Ryazan citizen for their support and constructive criticism. He suggested that he might be useful to the country in a new capacity. Lyubimov was appointed acting governor in early 2017 and won the gubernatorial election later that year.
The emergence of a new Governor Season
In January, a major business daily reported that the first round of governorship resignations could begin in the first quarter of the year, with up to nine governors potentially stepping down during this period. Direct elections were planned in 14 districts for the fall. By the end of April, three major outlets reported the possibility of canceling or delaying governorship elections, noting economic concerns as a factor. The Kremlin denied any such plan. Analysts argued that the timing of resignations could be strategic, offering an opportunity to prepare new leadership for future elections and that long-serving governors with limited standout achievements might be more likely to leave. The broader context recalls a recent wave of regional leadership changes, with several governors stepping down in the preceding years as part of a broader rotation aimed at rejuvenating the executive branch and ensuring continuity for the country’s governance model.
In recent history, the last major round of regional head changes occurred in late 2021, with some governors moving into advisory roles or administrative positions. The pattern reflects ongoing efforts to refresh leadership across many regions while maintaining policy continuity and national objectives.
Source notes provide context for the described events and leadership changes across multiple Russian regions. These summaries reflect publicly reported statements and regional government records as interpreted for this overview.