Russia’s Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media – Mintsifry – is preparing for a sweeping internal reorganisation that would see 15 percent of its staff laid off and two deputy ministers depart, according to sources in Russia’s telecommunications and IT sectors who spoke to RBC. The reshuffle comes as the Kremlin tightens control over digital governance and cybersecurity in the context of the war in Ukraine. Among those expected to leave are Sergei Kuchushev, who oversees economic, financial, IT industry and digital education departments, and Alexander Shoytov, who runs the information security directorate.

A third senior figure, Yevgeny Khasin, acting head of the cybersecurity department, may also go. While sources indicate that Shoytov’s departure is not yet a foregone conclusion, the broader trajectory is clear: several functions of his directorate are to be transferred to the FSB and the Federal Service for Technical and Export Control (FSTEC), the state’s main technical intelligence and export oversight bodies. The reorganisation, which began roughly six weeks ago, is described as a cost-cutting and efficiency drive.

Yet viewed from Moscow, the move also signals a deeper centralisation of security powers. The digital ministry, once a beacon of modernisation under Minister Maksut Shadayev, is being retooled to align more closely with the security establishment – a trend accelerated since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In a separate but telling development, at least 73 flights to and from Moscow’s three main airports were cancelled or delayed on 6 May, as the capital rehearsed the annual Victory Day military parade.

The disruptions, while routine for such occasions, underscore the state’s willingness to impose civilian inconvenience for the sake of martial spectacle. Analysts in London observe that both episodes reflect a regime increasingly willing to sacrifice bureaucratic efficiency and public convenience to reinforce its security posture. With the war draining budgets and talent, the flight of senior digital officials – and the shifting of their portfolios to the intelligence agencies – may further hamper Russia’s already weak technology sector.

The forthcoming reduction in Mintsifry’s headcount, combined with the loss of experienced deputies, risks hollowing out the very body meant to drive digital transformation. For now, the ministry’s future appears less about innovation and more about compliance with the security state’s priorities.