Russia is experiencing a significant outflow of residents from several mono- or semi-mono-industrial cities that were once major industrial centers. Five cities with a population of over 50,000 have been identified as places from which “everyone is fleeing”. The most “depressive” cities abandoned by their residents are:

1. Shakhty — a coal-mining city where the closure of mines has led to a catastrophic social and infrastructure crisis.
2. Vorkuta — a polar city severely affected after the reduction of mining activities; its population has sharply decreased, and infrastructure is deteriorating.
3. Astrakhan — a historically rich city that, according to the authors, is experiencing “decline”: worn-out housing, employment problems.
4. Makhachkala — the capital of Dagestan, where rapid population growth is not matched by adequate development of utilities and transportation infrastructure.
5. Novocherkassk — once an industrial pride of the Rostov region, now suffering from business closures and resident migration.

There are several key systemic problems that unite these cities:

• Economic stagnation: with the closure of enterprises and reduction of jobs, residents lose the incentive to stay.
• Social and infrastructure challenges: aging utilities, housing problems, and a degraded urban environment exacerbate the feeling of hopelessness.
• Outflow of skilled professionals: young people and active workers leave for larger cities, further weakening the economic potential of these areas.

The trend described points not merely to temporary difficulties but to deep structural problems within Russia’s regional economy. These cities are not just “depressive spots” on the map, but clear examples of how mono-industrial models are increasingly unable to adapt to modern challenges.

Without targeted support programs (infrastructure investment, economic diversification), these cities risk falling out of Russia’s active economic landscape altogether. If systemic issues are not addressed, the population outflow from the regions may continue at an accelerated pace, leading to further social and economic inequality between central and peripheral areas.

#RUSSIA

16.11.2025 07:43