The Murmansk region has managed to slow down the rate of population decline

The rate of population decline in the Murmansk Region has halved by 2025, and migration growth has been achieved. This became known at a meeting between Vladimir Putin and the Governor of the Murmansk region, Andrei Chibis, on November 24. At the same time, the head of state drew attention to the fact that more than 70% of the buildings of kindergartens and schools in the region require major repairs. The issue of eliminating accumulated dumps in mining sites remains important.

What was discussed at the meeting

Today, up to 10% of Russia's GDP is formed in the Arctic, despite the fact that only 2% of the country's population lives here, said Andrey Chibis, Governor of the Murmansk Region, at a meeting with Vladimir Putin. However, there is a risk of a decrease in cargo traffic along the Northern Sea Route, he warned. This is possible due to the fact that the volume of traffic on this route is provided by industrial projects until 2035. Now we need to think over the product base for the coming years as soon as possible, he stressed.

The development of the Arctic is as important for Russia as the development of the space industry for the USSR, especially for ensuring geopolitical security, taking into account the resource base of the region.

— Today, the Arctic is the foundation of Russia's security, economy and transport sovereignty, there is no other way to say it. Competition for the global Arctic is growing, you also know this very well, we feel it for ourselves and from the point of view of the attention of even those countries that are very far from the Arctic, but the militarization of the Arctic and competition for these resources is growing, — said Chibis.

There are still problems with social infrastructure in the region. In particular, more than 70% of the buildings of kindergartens and schools in the region require major repairs, the president noted. The authorities are solving this problem: in recent years, eight new kindergartens have been built and the waiting list for kindergartens has been completely eliminated.

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The Murmansk governor asked for the president's support in the construction of a children's hospital. Andrey Chibis spoke about the deplorable state of the old facility and shared the construction project for the new one. According to him, it is important that this project be funded for 2027.

The rate of population decline in the Murmansk Region has halved by 2025, and migration growth has been achieved for the first time. For the development of the Arctic, it is necessary to improve the quality of life of people in the northern regions. Among the main tasks is the elimination of dumps in mineral deposits, which have been accumulated since the Soviet period.

— Accumulated harm and the environment in general is not only a matter of smells, it smells good or bad, it is a matter of human health. And of course, there are some problems here that require special attention, I mean the growth of oncological diseases and neoplasms," Vladimir Putin stressed.

With the support of the government, a new cancer dispensary building is currently being completed in the region. It is planned to be commissioned in early 2026.