Russia pushes its biggest firms eastward, shifting headquarters from Moscow
All ten of Russia’s largest companies are relocating operations from Moscow to underdeveloped eastern regions as part of a Kremlin-led effort to spur regional growth.
According to a table shared on X by Russian commentator Dmitrii Kuznetsov, every one of the country’s ten largest corporations is either already moved or is preparing to move assets from Moscow to less-developed eastern territories. The Kremlin’s policy, first voiced by President Vladimir Putin in 2021, aims to redistribute tax revenue and stimulate regional economies that have historically lagged behind the capital. Reported moves include Gazprom’s relocation to St Petersburg in 2021, RusHydro’s shift of its headquarters and 40% of its staff to Krasnoyarsk in 2025, and plans for Rosneft and Russian Railways to establish bases in Krasnoyarsk, Vladivostok and Dobrograd around 2027.
While some firms are moving entire headquarters, others such as Inter RAO are setting up human-resources and call-centre operations in cities like Ivanovo, Saratov and Orel. Economic Development Minister Maxim Reshetnikov presented a detailed relocation plan covering eight state holdings, and United24 Media notes that the corporate networks involved encompass roughly 250 entities and 270,000 jobs in Moscow. Early moves have already transferred thousands of employees, including over 1,000 IT staff from Russian Post to Tatarstan.
Why it matters
The relocations could reshape Russia’s economic geography, shifting tax revenue and employment away from Moscow toward peripheral regions.
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