Hello!

This is Sveta Bronnikova, a journalist for the independent media outlet 7x7. Since March 2026, several Russian regions have begun canceling intercity bus routes. The reason is simple: the state has stopped subsidizing them. As a result, villagers are being left without their only means of reaching district centers—the hubs for jobs, schools, hospitals, and basic services.

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

In which regions have carriers canceled routes?

According to estimates by 7x7, this has occurred in at least three Russian regions: the Irkutsk Oblast, Altai Krai, and the Sakha Republic (Yakutia).

Sakha Republic (Yakutia): Since April 10, residents of the village of Solyanka have been unable to reach the district center, Olekminsk. According to the 2021 census, 331 people live in Solyanka. The distance to Olekminsk is 35 km.

As of this writing, the only bus to the city is not running because the Olekminsk district administration lacks the funds to subsidize the carrier. Without these subsidies, the "Solyanka–Olekminsk" route is unprofitable for private companies due to low passenger numbers.

Residents of other villages in the district, such as Biryuk and Yunkyur, are facing the same crisis.

Nikolai Kharbin, head of the Olekminsk district, stated on April 15 that the administration is taking measures and will report on a solution — though he did not specify when.

Irkutsk Oblast: In Angarsk, carriers have been warning passengers since December 2025 that discounted fares (subsidized travel) would be canceled. By March, drivers had posted notices that some routes would stop altogether due to unprofitability.

80% of passengers—roughly 40,000 people—rely on these discounts. Sergey Sharkov, head of the Angarsk Motor Transport Union, noted that the regional government only budgeted for these payments through March 2025, and even those payments are delayed by up to nine months.

The "Avtosib" company announced that starting May 1, it will stop honoring discounts for entitled citizens because the government owes transport companies over 200 million rubles.

Altai Krai: Residents of the Yegoryevsky District recorded a video appeal to Governor Viktor Tomenko. They explained that while the district received a new bus in 2024, it hasn't been on the road for 17 months. Consequently, children are walking to school and seniors are forced to pay for expensive taxis to reach shops or hospitals, despite over 5 million rubles being allocated in the local budget for bus maintenance.

How are residents reacting?

In Angarsk, the public mood is grim. Under a post about the cancellation of discounted tickets in the "LiveAngarsk" VK community, user Yevgeny Chernov wrote sarcastically:

"Oh, how wonderful that our benefit-holders can afford full fare! Thanks to the President for yet another economic success!"

Other users questioned whether officials pay for their own travel or simply use government vehicles. Natalia Genenko pointed out that the regional budget is drained because taxes flow to the capital:

"All of Siberia has 'sagged' budget-wise... The regions working for the defense industry are doing well. But we have a ton of offices for companies that pay their taxes in Moscow. Where is our budget money supposed to come from? Every big shot tries to bail for Moscow or St. Petersburg, while the taxes in the region are expected to fall from the sky."

Why is there no money for subsidies?

In 2025, regional authorities closed their budgets with a record deficit. It grew 3.5 times compared to the previous year, reaching 1.5 trillion rubles (compared to approximately 400 billion in 2024).

Economist Nikolai Kulbaka believes the deficit is the primary reason for the transport cuts.

The "Safe" Cut: "Regions are in a tough spot, so they look for where they can save," Kulbaka explained. "Subsidizing transport is something they can cut. If they cut social spending—like salaries or pensions—they’ll get in trouble with the Kremlin immediately."

Lack of Leverage: The federal center prioritizes preventing "social tension." However, people in remote villages and small towns cannot organize large-scale protests because their numbers are too small.

The "Invisibility" Factor: The state is largely uninterested in these locations. They aren't sites for new factories or major roads. According to Kulbaka, the government's inaction effectively forces people to abandon these areas and move to larger cities.

The outlook remains bleak: since regional budgets are unlikely to see an influx of cash, Kulbaka predicts that public transport subsidies across many Russian regions will likely continue to shrink.