The main focus of the meeting was the development of the Russian Arctic Zone and the Trans-Arctic Transport Corridor. A report was delivered by Deputy Prime Minister – Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District Yury Trutnev.
At the beginning of the meeting, current issues were also reviewed. Justice Minister Konstantin Chuychenko spoke about the provision of free legal assistance to citizens and the digitalisation of the civil registry system, while Minister of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media Maksut Shadayev reported on expanding internet access to small communities with populations of 100 to 1,000. Separate attention was given to the operation of essential services under restrictions on mobile internet in large cities due to drone attacks.
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President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Mishustin, colleagues, good afternoon. Let’s get down to work.
You are aware that quite recently, together with some colleagues in the Government, we addressed flash floods in a number of Russian regions affected by these seasonal challenges. In this regard, I would like to draw attention to the fact that in such situations, when emergencies arise, citizens particularly need access to legal assistance, as assessments must be made of lost property and appropriate decisions taken on that basis.
I would like to ask Mr Chuychenko how this work is organised overall. Please.
Minister of Justice Konstantin Chuychenko: Mr President, Colleagues,
Since 2020, we have repeatedly reported to you regarding the development of free legal assistance in the Russian Federation. The last such report was delivered in 2024. Allow me to present the results of this work, outline the prospects, and, of course, report on the current situation in this area in Daghestan.
Over six years, the volume of free legal assistance has increased by 77 percent, and as of the end of 2025, it stands at 650,000 cases. This growth is significant, yet, given that over 33 million people are entitled to free legal assistance, we must certainly not rest content with these figures.
We identify three areas for improving these efforts: first, enhancing legal regulation; second, developing the resource base and organisational structure; and, naturally, digital transformation.
We are currently expanding both the scope of provision of free legal assistance and, through amendments to the current legislation, the category of recipients of free legal assistance. Much has already been done in this area, with 15 amendments having been enacted. Nevertheless, we proceed from the premise that free legal assistance should be universal in nature. In other words, a person entitled to free legal assistance should receive such assistance in respect of any matter, not only those listed in the law. Naturally, this must not involve circumventing legislation or pursuing interests that are anti-social or contrary to those of the state.
Therefore, we propose proceeding cautiously and gradually in this area, as this would inevitably lead to an increase in the volume of free legal assistance. This will require a corresponding increase in expenditure.
(The Minister went on to report on the establishment of regional state legal bureaus; they have already been opened in 78 regions and handle almost half of all free legal assistance. Mobile offices are also used – namely, a GAZelle NEXT vehicle that has been refit and turned into a mobile legal assistance office. Notably, this format is used in Daghestan in the areas affected by flooding following abnormal rains, in addition to the 44 fixed free legal assistance points deployed there. People receive comprehensive advice on restoring documents and property, on claiming payments, and on procedures for receiving various forms of social assistance.
Konstantin Chuychenko also spoke about digitalisation, in particular a pilot project in 10 regions to introduce the Legal Assistance federal state information system. To date, all regions have been connected to it. The system has been integrated with the Gosuslugi Portal (unified government services portal) and contains up-to-date, reliable legal information in an accessible format. So far, 356 practical scenarios have been entered into the system, containing step-by-step instructions for the most commonly encountered real-life situations. In 2025 alone, over 67,000 requests were handled through the system. As part of the digitalisation of the civil registry system (ZAGS), the conversion of civil status registration records dating back to 1926 has been completed, totalling 520 million entries. Today, all operations of the ZAGS offices are carried out electronically. The Minister proposed measures to further improve this system.
The President expressed gratitude for the work undertaken and stated that he expected it to be continued in the same effective manner.)
Vladimir Putin: Mr Shadayev, regarding internet access in small towns and villages with populations ranging from 100 to 1,000 people – we are addressing this separately – I would like an update on the current situation. Given recent events, such as the floods and the like, this issue is particularly urgent, especially when people find themselves effectively cut off from the mainland.
Please.
Minister of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media Maksut Shadayev: Thank you.
Mr President,
Accessible high-speed internet is, of course, an essential necessity for our citizens today. It must be affordable economically, financially, and ensure fast and reliable connection for our people wherever they are.
Mr President, in your Executive Order on national development goals, you set a target of providing access to high-speed internet to 97 percent of the population by 2030.
Given the vast size of the country, this is clearly an ambitious target, especially since connecting small, remote communities is often not economically viable for telecom operators. The cost of building infrastructure is high, while the number of users is small, so the investment does not pay off.
To tackle this challenge, the Government is rolling out a comprehensive programme, the Digital Divide Elimination Programme, aimed at closing the gap between rural and urban areas when it comes to access to digital services.
Let me say at the outset, Mr President, that this is a unique infrastructure initiative. It is funded entirely through targeted contributions from telecom operators, which are pooled into a dedicated fund to cover the cost of building the necessary infrastructure. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the telecom companies for their support – Russia’s telecom sector is arguably one of the most socially responsible in the economy.
During the first phase of the programme implementation, we funded the rollout of fibre-optic networks to communities with populations of 250 to 500 people. By the end of 2021, these lines had been installed in 13,500 communities, reaching more than four million residents.
True, according to the All-Russian Population Census data we received in 2022, the number of communities in this category has decreased: some of them have grown, while others have diminished. However, all the communication lines that were built remain in operation, and usage levels are consistently stable, confirming strong demand for this infrastructure.
In 2021, we embarked on the second stage of this programme. By 2030, we plan – as you rightly pointed out, following the expansion of its scope – to deploy fourth-generation mobile broadband infrastructure, known as LTE, in all small localities with populations ranging from 100 to 1,000 people. To this end, we are already financing, and will continue to finance, the installation of corresponding base stations in small localities.
Naturally, the programme covers those localities where mobile network operators have not deployed this infrastructure themselves. Initially, there were 15,500 such localities.
It is evident that high-speed mobile internet represents a practical technological solution: there is no need to pay for laying the cable to one’s house; all devices can be connected directly to the base station.
Mr President, it is important that we determine the annual connection plan based on the results of a public vote. Quotas are allocated to the regions, but specific localities are selected by residents. They can cast their votes by submitting a request through Russian Post or by voting directly on the Gosuslugi (Public Services) Portal.
Four such selection rounds have now been completed: more than three million citizens voted, and we have identified 8,000 localities which have since been connected to mobile internet. Over 1.8 million people now reside in these localities, with approximately 600,000 using mobile internet on a daily basis; this represents one in three residents. This attests to the high demand for this programme.
Accordingly, over the past four years we have addressed half of the total requirement. We intend to maintain this rate of progress. In total, approximately 350,000 to 400,000 people will gain access to high-speed mobile internet each year.
I would also highlight another achievement that, I believe, is of considerable significance. In recent years, we have started installing domestically manufactured base stations. As you are aware, we had never manufactured them before. Currently, 20 percent of base stations in rural areas are of Russian manufacture. Naturally, these incorporate components of foreign origin; however, the use of Russian software and control systems means that they may now be classified as domestically produced.
We face three challenges. Firstly, given the size of our country, there are still localities – especially in the Far North and the Arctic – that are very difficult to reach with physical channels. Therefore, we are eagerly awaiting satellite internet.
You know everything about the low-orbit constellation. I would further observe that four years ago, the Ministry of Digital Development secured funding and allocated it to Roscosmos for the construction of four spacecraft designed to operate in highly elliptical orbits and to provide high-speed internet coverage to our northern territories, all along the Northern Sea Route. In effect, we are expecting these spacecraft next year.
At the moment, we are laying fibre optic cables. Last year, we allocated a fairly substantial budget, again from this fund, to build 7,000 kilometres of fibre optic cable in Yakutia and in the northern regions, in order to provide connectivity to more than 45,000 residents living there.
Our main way of establishing a communication link to small towns is by running fibre optic cables along the existing power line infrastructure. But here, of course, we run into one problem. After the grid operator adjusted its rates, the Ministry of Digital Development is now paying eight times more from the project budget to lease these power line supports: previously, we paid 2,000 rubles per kilometre; now we are paying 16,000. In other words, we now spend one billion rubles a year just on leasing power lines for the cable to reach these small communities. Given that this is a social programme, one might reasonably consider whether discounted leasing terms could be applied. Any savings we can make could then be used to connect more communities.
And the third point. In our towns and villages, especially those in border areas, near Ukraine, or near strategically important facilities, mobile high-speed internet is patchy. This is clearly due to electronic warfare, and there are regular outages because of the threat of drone attacks. So our proposal here is to go back to older technology: in these communities, we will fund the installation of cables directly to specific users, to individual households. I am confident there is a critical mass of users. This year, we will collect applications via the Gosuslugi (Public Services) Portal and then shift focus to physical connectivity in these towns and villages, keeping the mobile infrastructure in place, but refocusing on that.
And to conclude, I’d like to say this: it is probably stating the obvious, but census data has shown that in communities where affordable, high-speed internet has arrived – and the affordability bit is very important – the outflow to cities has slowed significantly or even stopped altogether. That’s because the same quality of life, in terms of access to digital services and digital benefits, can now be achieved in rural areas just like in the city.
That is why it is vital for us to continue this programme. And more broadly, we need to ensure stable operation of high-speed mobile internet in cities as well, while of course recognising that security comes first.
Thank you.
Vladimir Putin: Thank you very much.
This constitutes work of considerable importance – ensuring rural communities have internet access is, without question, in exceptionally high demand. As you have just observed, residents of rural areas must not be deprived of access to the benefits of technological progress. On the contrary, they need to have access to more new options for a comfortable life, employment, education, advanced medical care, and personal fulfilment. As you have just noted, even relocation to urban centres is slowing down. This is only natural, as people feel they are part of the shared agenda, of the life of our vast country. I ask you to continue this work.
However, I must draw attention to issues that people also encounter in major urban centres – albeit infrequently, but, unfortunately, it happens; I refer to certain problems and disruptions in internet service even in major metropolitan areas.
Naturally, where this is linked to operational measures to prevent terrorist acts – and we acknowledge that, unfortunately, such attacks do occasionally occur – ensuring the safety of our people, our children, our loved ones and every citizen of Russia, will always be our top priority.
In this regard, I would simply like to note that, of course, in such circumstances, it is necessary to ensure that the public is kept informed, although I understand that, when operational measures are underway to prevent criminal acts or terrorist attacks, the premature dissemination of information to the wider public may compromise the operational work, given that criminals, after all, likewise hear and see everything. And, undoubtedly, should any information reach them, they will adapt their criminal conduct and modify their plans accordingly.
At the same time, first, at the very least, following the conclusion of such operations, people should be informed about what has happened.
Secondly, it is imperative that close coordination be maintained between law enforcement agencies and civilian government bodies, in order to identify optimal solutions.
Moreover, we invariably expect that law enforcement agencies themselves will exercise the requisite ingenuity in their work, demonstrate high standards of professionalism and take into account the vital interests of the country’s citizens, in whose interests we all operate.
What further measures are required, and what would I like to draw attention to? We need to develop a mechanism to ensure that vital services operate without interruption. As is well known, even with mobile phones, when there is no credit on a user’s account, emergency calls may still be placed. In the case of mobile internet, it is necessary to adopt a comparable approach. In other words, even during periods of general restrictions, the Gosuslugi portal, payment services, and medical appointment services must remain accessible, especially as we have the technological capability to ensure this. We must make full use of it.
Mr Shadayev, I ask that you – and a corresponding instruction will be issued to law enforcement agencies specifically – pursue this matter together with your colleagues.
Thank you.
Let us now proceed to the main item on our agenda.
Colleagues,
Our agenda today is focused on our comprehensive joint activities in the development of Russia’s Arctic regions, the Russian Arctic. I have spoken many times about the special strategic importance of that region for Russia, for our economy, for building up Russia’s industrial potential, and for ensuring national security and sovereignty.
I would also like to emphasise the growing role of the Arctic in the global context or more precisely, for the global environment, fuel, energy and raw materials sectors, and for enhancing the stability of international trade and logistics ties.
In particular, the significance of the northern trans-Arctic route as the safest, most reliable and efficient route is becoming increasingly evident amid the global supply chain disruptions due to numerous conflicts, including the current conflict in the Middle East.
It is also evident that geopolitical competition and the struggle for positions in the Arctic zone are growing too. I would like to repeat what we have said many times before: we are ready for cooperation, not for competition and confrontation, but for cooperation with all interested countries. At the same time, we will invariably protect, and will undoubtedly protect our national interests in the Arctic. By maintaining peace and stability in that strategic region, we will ensure its long-term socioeconomic development, improve the quality of life for our people, and preserve the inimitable culture of the indigenous peoples of the North and the unique Arctic nature.
We have already launched this challenging work. Projects for the extraction and deep processing of natural resources in the North and for expanding its industrial capacities are underway. We are strengthening the logistics network of the Arctic, including sea and river ports, railway lines, roads and airports. We are coordinating and will implement plans to connect the Trans-Arctic Transport Corridor to the Russian rail network and river waterways, as well as to expand and build new port terminals and shipbuilding facilities.
And, of course, our key objective is to improve the quality of life in the Arctic by bringing education and conditions for work, recreation and raising children up to present-day standards.
The Arctic Mortgage programme has already been extended until 2030, offering an annual interest rate of two percent. This offers significant help to families in the North, and to those who come here to live and work.
Work has begun on implementing the master plans for Arctic zone conurbations. And I should say, this work is progressing well and already showing results.
These and other objectives were set out a year ago at the Arctic: Territory of Dialogue forum in Murmansk. Following the forum, a list of instructions was drawn up, which included an agreement to update the Arctic zone development strategy and prepare a financial and economic model for the Trans-Arctic Transport Corridor.
I have to note, unfortunately, that this work is still not complete. Today, we will discuss how these and other shared plans and Presidential instructions are being implemented, and consider whether any organisational solutions are needed to speed up progress.
At the same time, I want to stress again: this is a major, complex undertaking from a management perspective. It involves all levels of government, including the relevant State Council commissions, the Maritime Board, Rosatom state corporation, VEB.RF as our leading development institution, and other structures and entities.
It is crucial that their efforts are properly coordinated at both federal and regional levels, and that the planned investment projects in the Arctic are linked together, producing a genuinely comprehensive and systemic effect for the development of Arctic cities and territories, and for the people living in the Russian North, Siberia, and the Far East.
It is worth recalling our own domestic experience. For example, the construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway at the turn of the 20th century, and later, the development of the Northern Sea Route, were conceived and delivered as integrated projects. They gave a powerful boost to entire industries and regions, laying the groundwork for new cities, new enterprises, and major industrial centres.
Let’s now move on to the discussion of this issue. I know my colleagues have been preparing for it, and I would like to hand over to Yury Trutnev, who, I should add, is doing a huge amount to put all our plans into action.
Mr Trutnev, go ahead, please.
To be continued.