On Friday, June 6, President Vladimir Putin held a meeting of the Council on National Projects in a closed format at his official residence. Only five individuals were invited in person: Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, Presidential Aide Maxim Oreshkin, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov, and Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin. Other members of the council, including Presidential Chief of Staff Anton Vaino and Tula Governor Alexey Dyumin, participated via video link.
Strikingly absent from the in-person meeting was Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Savelyev, who oversees the transportation sector — even though the primary focus of the session was on his area of responsibility. Moreover, the discussion revealed unsatisfactory outcomes for the transport mobility project, which, according to insiders, may explain his remote participation.
Budget Cuts and Harsh Words for the Planners
President Putin announced the need for significant funding cuts to the new national project on transport mobility:
“It’s only been implemented for a few months. Nevertheless, the government proposes to revise its funding and cut spending this year. Funding for production tools under the national project is also to be cut back significantly.”
He also voiced dissatisfaction with the broader approach to planning:
“We need to improve the quality of planning. Not all factors are being accounted for in a timely manner.”
This kind of rhetoric, coupled with visible irritation, has been consistent in recent days. According to sources close to the Kremlin, it reflects Putin’s growing frustration with the government’s inability to deliver bold, strategic goals.
In response, a new level of control is being introduced:
“Deputy prime ministers and ministers must take personal responsibility for implementing new technologies in their respective sectors. Regulatory frameworks must be flexible, focused on experimentation, and geared toward quickly deploying promising solutions.”
Drones: Lagging Behind and Growing Vulnerabilities
Unmanned aerial technologies were another major point of criticism. According to Putin:
“The development of a regulatory framework for the use of unmanned aerial vehicles is not moving fast enough.”
The issue was also raised by Senator Dmitry Rogozin, who pointed to Russia’s dependency on Chinese components in drone production:
“Our drones are also mostly made from Chinese materials. Those involved in supplying and producing UAVs will confirm my words — sourcing and delivering components is becoming increasingly difficult each time.”
“Regarding drones, we must urgently issue a state order to reproduce all their components at Russian facilities. And this must be entrusted to people capable of doing it — not to those who waste our time with endless chatter about the economic infeasibility of domestic production.”
Space Projects: Back on the Table, but with Familiar Problems
The national space program, once again promoted by Deputy Prime Minister Manturov, was also brought back into the discussion. However, Putin’s trust in the effectiveness of previous spending in this area remains low. While he confirmed that the lunar program would continue, he hinted at broader concerns:
“The lunar program will continue.”
Past audits have repeatedly shown that much of the allocated funding for space was either embezzled, mismanaged, or produced underwhelming results. In some cases — such as the failure of the Luna-25 mission — the outcomes were openly disastrous.
Tightening Control and Raising the Stakes
The tone of Putin’s recent remarks, combined with the exclusive nature of the meeting and repeated emphasis on planning, technology, and accountability, signals a clear shift in how national projects are being managed. He now expects ministers to deliver not just paperwork and progress reports but tangible, innovative results.
Those who fail to do so risk either public reprimand or, like Savelyev, a quiet sidelining.
With international pressure mounting and domestic stagnation continuing, the Kremlin is searching for swift and visible victories — and appears increasingly unwilling to tolerate incompetence, delays, or excuses.
