Time for change: what will the personnel changes in the Russian government lead to?

Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed on the personnel changes proposed by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin in the Cabinet of Ministers. The reshuffle comes after the September elections to the State Duma amid the need to address economic challenges, including ensuring growth, managing budget expenditures and improving public administration efficiency. For more information, see the Izvestia article.

What personnel changes are expected in the government of the Russian Federation

One of the key changes may be the transfer of Irina Okladnikova from the post of First Deputy Finance Minister to the post of Deputy Prime Minister and head of the government staff. Dmitry Grigorenko currently holds this position.

The Government staff ensures the organization of the work of the Cabinet of Ministers, the preparation of decisions and the interaction of federal executive authorities. The effectiveness of this structure depends on the coordination of the ministries' actions, the timely consideration of initiatives and the organization of the execution of the instructions of the country's leadership.

Okladnikova's transfer from the Ministry of Finance to the Cabinet office may mean a change in her area of responsibility: from direct work in the finance department to coordinating the activities of the government as a whole. At the same time, work experience in the ministry will be important in organizing interdepartmental cooperation on budget and economic policy issues.

Another possible appointment concerns Oleg Kozhemyako, Governor of Primorsky Krai, to the post of Deputy Prime Minister, presidential plenipotentiary representative in the Far Eastern Federal District. If approved, he will switch from the regional to the federal level and will combine the two functions, also serving as Deputy Prime Minister. The current presidential envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District, Yuri Trutnev, may move to another position in the Kremlin.

Another proposed change concerns Finance Minister Anton Siluanov. He has been nominated for the post of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance. This design involves combining the leadership of the Ministry of Finance with the powers of the Deputy Prime Minister.

If this decision is implemented, the financial unit will receive additional representation at the level of deputy prime ministers. But the new status itself does not mean an automatic change in fiscal policy. To assess the consequences, it is necessary to take into account the distribution of powers and specific assignments that will be assigned to the head.

Why change the leadership of the Cabinet office

The possible change of the head of the government staff is important not only for the internal organization of the Cabinet of Ministers. This structure participates in the preparation of decisions, the coordination of documents and the interaction of the executive branch with Parliament.

Dmitry Grigorenko has been Deputy Prime Minister and Head of the Government Staff since May 2024. His appointment was confirmed by a presidential decree.

An important area of the office's work is the coordination of legislative activities. Government initiatives require coordination between ministries, followed by parliamentary procedures. The timing of the preparation of draft laws and the coordination of the proposed changes depend on the quality of this work.

In early October, the focus was on the distribution of powers in the leadership of the State Duma and the role of the government commission on legislative activity, which was headed by Grigorenko. It ensures the interaction of the Cabinet of Ministers with both houses of Parliament. If Okladnikova takes the position of head of the government staff, she will be responsible for the continuity of these processes.

Her experience in the finance department can be useful in coordinating issues that require the participation of several ministries. However, it is worth evaluating the effectiveness of a possible appointment based on the specific results of the work of the staff and the organization of interdepartmental interaction.

Who will be responsible for transportation

The transport unit may also undergo changes. The current Minister of Transport, Andrey Nikitin, has been proposed for the post of Deputy Prime Minister, who will oversee, among other things, the transport complex. Dmitry Yadrov, head of the Federal Air Transport Agency, has been nominated for the post of head of the Ministry of Transport.

The proposed scheme separates the political coordination of the industry and the direct leadership of the relevant ministry. The Deputy Prime Minister is responsible for coordinating the work of structures and implementing national tasks, while the minister organizes the activities of his department and ensures the execution of decisions within his competence.

This distribution is especially important for the transportation industry, where rail, road, aviation, and maritime transport interact, as well as departments responsible for infrastructure, security, and logistics.

Nikitin's appointment to the post of Deputy Prime Minister may continue his work at the federal level, but with the expansion of managerial functions. Yadrov, in turn, if approved, will be able to move from the leadership of the aviation regulator to the management of the entire transport complex.

Personnel changes are also related to the departure of Vitaly Saveliev from the post of Deputy Prime Minister. On September 28, 2026, President Vladimir Putin dismissed him from office due to his election to the State Duma of the IX convocation. The relevant decree has been published on the official portal of legal information.

Saveliev oversaw the transport industry, including the work of the Ministry of Transport and the Federal Air Transport Agency. On September 30, he was elected deputy Chairman of the State Duma. Thus, Nikitin's proposed appointment can be considered in the context of the redistribution of responsibility for the transport complex after Saveliev's departure from the executive branch.

At the same time, the final configuration of the industry's management will depend on the approved distribution of powers between the Deputy Prime Minister, the Minister of Transport and other relevant leaders.

What will change in the government's management system

The proposed changes affect several areas at once: economic policy, transport, the organization of the Cabinet's work and the coordination of the federal agenda in the Far East.

In the financial sector, Anton Siluanov's possible promotion to Deputy Prime Minister and Finance minister may strengthen his formal position in the government structure. On the contrary, the appointment of Okladnikova as chief of staff can be described as the transition of a specialist from an industry department to a position related to coordinating the work of the entire Cabinet of Ministers.

In the transport sector, the expected appointment of Andrei Nikitin as Deputy Prime Minister and Dmitry Yadrov as Minister of Transport will separate the functions of general management of the industry and direct management of the department. In the Far East, Oleg Kozhemyako's transition to the federal level is capable of changing the organization of interaction between regional and federal authorities.

Taken together, these decisions will indicate a desire to redistribute the managerial burden and consolidate responsibility for certain areas of public policy.