Meeting with Nenets Autonomous Area Governor Irina Gekht

First of all, Irina Gekht Gekht IrinaGovernor of the Nenets Autonomous Area thanked the President for signing an executive order on celebrating the region's 100^th anniversary, noting that this decision inspired all people living in the region, from reindeer herders to oil industry workers. She said that the area, with its vast territory, is one of the key regions in Russia's Arctic zone, despite the fact that its population is relatively small. In fact, this is where major oil and gas reserves are located, and only 34 percent of oil reserves and 2 percent of prospective natural gas deposits have been developed. Two new fields are expected to be launched this year: the Layavozhskoye field, which is a joint project by Gazprom and LUKOIL, and the Komandirshorskoye field, where LUKOIL will start producing oil in September. The regional government carries out social projects together with oil companies. For example, there is a project with Zarubezhneft on developing small-scale power generation.

Despite the economic challenges faced by the region and the entire country, all social commitments were met in 2025, including the priority objective to support special military operation participants. There are 14 support measures as set out in the Presidential Executive Order, as well as 38 additional financial measures to this effect. In addition, the Nenets Autonomous Area has been sponsoring and accompanying the Kamensk-Dnieprovsky District in the Zaporozhye Region, which lies on the line of contact. This included, among other things, buying generators for veterans in order to ensure that they have a steady power and water supply.

As for the Nenets Autonomous Area, the discussion focused on education, healthcare and social policy. Education accounts for about 24 percent of the regional budget, economic matters take up 54 percent, while healthcare and social policy have a 12-percent share in the regional economy. The region may have a diversified economy, but minerals and fossil fuels still account for over 80 percent, however, SMEs have been expanding their operations too. In the first six months of 2026, the industrial production grew by 2.5 percent. Irina Gekht went on to mention the Indiga deepwater port on Cape Rumyanichny as another major project with about 10 billion rubles in investment. This is a year-round port with a depth of over 20 metres. Considering its convenient location in a bay, it actually needs no icebreaker support. The project has been included in the comprehensive development plan.

Irina Gekht specified that reindeer breeding remains one of the key traditional industries. The Nenets Autonomous Area remains self-sufficient when it comes to meat supplies. The region provides 179 types of social benefits and plans to expand the scope to stimulate demographic growth. In particular, the plan is to increase maternity capital and student capital, and to open a multi-purpose family centre. There has been some progress in public healthcare development. The region is implementing a plan for opening more cultural centres, post offices and bakeries.

The President and the Governor also discussed transport logistics. The region relies on two modes of intra-regional transport: helicopters and Antonov An-2 aircraft. The concession agreement regarding the renovation of a runway in Naryan-Mar is in its drafting stage.

The Governor reported that last year brought a breakthrough in telecommunication infrastructure development. Remote villages are being connected to stable communication. There is a promising optical fibre communication line project for which Irina Gekht requested support as part of the area's co-financing in order to complete the project within two or three years.

The Governor also asked the President for support in addressing the crucial issue of the Naryan-Mar - Usinsk motorway with a bridge across the Kuya River that has to be lifted during the flooding season, cutting the area off land-based transportation for six weeks. A project design has been prepared for a bridge and access roads that will cost around eight billion rubles. The region has allocated funds from the budget starting in 2029 but the funds are limited to 5.3 billion. Irina Gekht believes this strategic facility deserves support.

Finally, Ms Gekht reported on local historians' initiative to promote Naryan-Mar for the title of the City of Labour Glory. The title was established to eternalise the heroic deeds of home front workers during the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945. The Governor mentioned a remarkable story of reindeer transport battalions, when 700 reindeer-team drivers and 10,000 reindeer went to the front, to the Karelian Isthmus. Local women also built an airfield in Naryan-Mar. The White Sea Flotilla, which escorted lend-lease cargo, was also based there. The city produced reindeer meat and fish. All residents laboured for the benefit of the front. Vladimir Putin promised to review the submission.