Russian Government Addresses Manufacturing in New Regions, Cyber Fraud, and Road Construction Acceleration

Government Convenes on Key National Priorities

The Russian government held a significant meeting on January 15, 2026, chaired by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin. The discussions focused on three critical areas: the development of manufacturing in newly integrated regions, enhanced measures to combat cyber fraud, and strategies to accelerate road construction across the country.

Boosting Manufacturing in New Regions

During the meeting, Prime Minister Mishustin highlighted the ongoing efforts to revitalize the industrial sector in the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics, and the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions. Comprehensive plans are currently being implemented to restore and expand the capacity of vital enterprises in metallurgy, machine-building, and other key industries within these territories.

To further stimulate these efforts, the government has simplified access to support measures for manufacturers in these regions. Special preferential coefficients will be applied until the end of 2027 to confirm the domestic origin of various products. This measure covers items such as:

• Conveyors for mining industry
• Metalworking machines
• Drilling rigs
• Excavators
• Stone and ore crushing machines

The 'Russian status' for these goods provides a significant advantage in state procurement processes and opens doors to various financial support mechanisms, including federal subsidies. Mishustin emphasized that these initiatives will enable companies to operate more efficiently and provide entrepreneurs with expanded opportunities for investment in production infrastructure updates.

New Operational Headquarters to Combat Cyber Fraud

A major focus of the meeting was the escalating issue of cyber and telephone fraud. The government announced the creation of an operational headquarters specifically tasked with combating cyber fraudsters. This new body aims to unify the efforts of state agencies, digital platforms, and the financial sector to more effectively protect citizens.

The headquarters' responsibilities will include identifying emerging fraudulent schemes, compiling effective countermeasures, and maintaining a centralized database of these measures. It will also be instrumental in developing legislative proposals to enhance citizen protection against cybercriminals. Prime Minister Mishustin issued the directive for its creation on January 3, 2026, with the Ministry of Digital Development (Mincifry), Ministry of Internal Affairs, FSB, and Roskomnadzor mandated to submit proposals for its formation and personnel by March 2, 2026.

Furthermore, the government approved new initiatives, including amendments to strengthen the accountability of telecom operators for violations concerning SIM card sales, particularly to foreign citizens. These proposed legislative changes are slated for submission to the State Duma. This follows a second package of anti-fraud measures, comprising approximately 20 innovations, submitted to the State Duma in late December 2025, which may come into force by September 2026.

Accelerating Road Construction Through Regional Co-financing

The acceleration of road construction was another critical item on the agenda. The government has prepared a new bill that will allow regions to allocate their own funds for the construction and maintenance of federal highways. This new mechanism will facilitate co-financing from regional budgets, federal funds, and private investors, aiming to expedite the implementation of significant infrastructure projects.

Prime Minister Mishustin noted that this approach would be applied to projects such as the southern bypass of Tyumen and the interchange of the M-12 'Vostok' highway with the Small Ring Road in the Moscow region. He also highlighted that over the past five years, approximately 140,000 km of federal, regional, and local roads have been built or repaired in Russia, with ongoing work under the national project 'Infrastructure for Life'. Additionally, the government approved amendments enabling regions to co-finance projects managed by the state company 'Avtodor', expanding their previous ability to only fund roads under Rosavtodor. The national plan for road activities targets the construction of 50 new bypasses around settlements by 2030.