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The head of state extended his greetings to Andrei Nikitin on Transport Workers’ Day.

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President of Russia Vladimir Putin: First of all, I would like to extend my greetings to you on your professional holiday.

Minister of Transport Andrei Nikitin: Thank you very much.

Vladimir Putin: I would like to thank you and everyone working in this vital, without exaggeration state-forming sector, because the country simply cannot function without the transport industry.

You employ people who are fully devoted to their work –especially now, as I can see – across all modes of transport. They work hard, consistently, and effectively.

So, to you and to everyone contributing to this vast national transport system, I extend my warmest and most sincere words of gratitude. And once again, happy holiday.

Andrei Nikitin: Thank you very much.

Mr President, the transport sector is indeed one of the five largest industries in Russia. This year we have seen increased investment in urban electric transport and road infrastructure, growth in passenger traffic, an increase in eastbound rail freight, and growth in freight turnover with friendly countries.

Of course, we are paying special attention to the social agenda. All your instructions regarding support for the participants in the special military operation are being carried out. I would also like to report that all State Council instructions on the Family project in the transport sector have been fulfilled. We continue to advance, developing family-oriented standards, and expanding the student construction brigade movement. This year, 22,000 students worked at Ministry of Transport facilities.

Vladimir Putin: Are these specifically students from transport universities, or also from other universities?

Andrei Nikitin: These are primarily students from transport universities. We have almost half a million students studying in transport-related higher education institutions. They are happy to work, learning the fundamentals of the transport sector.

As for rail transport, we are seeing strong growth in passenger traffic. We are building new infrastructure, new railway stations, upgrading overhead lines, and constructing transport and logistics centres. We are also renewing rolling stock. We are observing robust growth both in eastbound traffic and in freight turnover with friendly countries. In short, rail transport is operating reliably.

We are paying particular attention to the high-speed railway project.

Mr President, I report that work has commenced along the entire route of the high-speed railway line. As of today, more than 10,000 people are working on the construction site, with nearly 4,000 units of machinery in operation. In other words, progress is being made on all fronts.

Furthermore, in terms of the train’s construction, approximately 150 Russian enterprises are engaged in industrial cooperation. The train is being built, designed, and fitted with unique components. This project represents full-fledged Russian transport sovereignty. Indeed, no one has ever built a high-speed railway line under such conditions and in such a climate. Here, we will be the first in the world to rely entirely on Russian technologies throughout the entire route.

Regarding air transport, we are executing your instruction on developing regional air services. Almost 54 percent of our air traffic now occurs outside Moscow.

We are expanding international connectivity. Compared to 2022, we have added 19 countries to our list of direct flight destinations, bringing the current total to 42 countries. Moreover, thanks to our major airlines such as Aeroflot, S7, and UTair, an entire industry for servicing foreign aircraft has been established practically from scratch. Some 8,000 talented engineers are employed in this field. All maintenance is now conducted here in Russia, as we have successfully mastered these technologies. Today, our flights are safe. We are also developing infrastructure, with seven airport complexes already operational. In reality, our plans are far more ambitious. This work is progressing at full speed.

Vladimir Putin: I see that in the air transport sector, you have people – Heroes of Russia, participants in the special military operation – working at a high level.

Andrei Nikitin: Yes, Mr President. Moreover, we now have a new profession – operator of unmanned aerial vehicles, or drone pilot.

Vladimir Putin: This is clear, but I am referring directly to the governance bodies of Aeroflot and the Federal Air Transport Agency.

Andrei Nikitin: Yes. We are working in that direction.

Seventy percent of foreign trade cargo is transported by sea. This is, of course, our most critical transport hub. What is important here? We are ensuring the construction of a rescue fleet for the Northern Sea Route and developing simulators for training crews of nuclear-powered icebreakers. The positive trend is that the number of cargo vessels under the flag of the Russian Federation is growing – pleasingly so – and the number of passengers transported by sea is also increasing at a commendable rate.

Another highly important topic is river transport. The key tasks here are, indisputably, the construction and modernisation of hydraulic structures, which will increase the depths in the unified deep-water system, as well as the construction of logistics centres…

Vladimir Putin: It is necessary to monitor prices and the cost estimates for these works.

Andrei Nikitin: Absolutely. Here, of course, this must be addressed as closely as possible.

Under the leadership of [Deputy Prime Minister] Vitaly Savelyev, the River Highways project is being implemented. This involves the construction of high-speed hydrofoils and subsidised transportation. There has been very notable growth in passenger transport along rivers – also by 20 percent this year.

Vladimir Putin: Dredging is a matter of great importance.

I understand that budgetary capabilities are always limited, both in prosperous and challenging periods, but this is a question of priority.

Andrei Nikitin: I agree, Mr President; prioritisation is important so that, where our cargo flows, dredging, naturally, ensures the necessary passage for vessels. We are monitoring this very closely.

Vladimir Putin: We are second in the world for the total length of inland waterways.

Andrei Nikitin: Yes. That is, traditionally, our rivers… Well, indeed, our country began with rivers: the famous Route from the Varangians to the Greeks. Today, the potential of river transport is, in fact, underutilised, so our task is to ensure it is maximally realised.

Speaking of roads and road transport, we are fulfilling all the instructions you have given. The work is progressing absolutely smoothly. All the tasks set for this year are being carried out and will be completed by the end of the year.

Vladimir Putin: Are you referring to reaching a certain standard level?

Andrei Nikitin: Yes, reaching the standards. I mean, our task is to achieve 85 percent for federal roads by 2030; we are already at 74.1 percent. For regional roads – 60 percent, we are at 55.7. We are also working on local roads.

Particular focus is being placed on roads leading to educational institutions, medical facilities, tourist sites, and sports venues in the regions.

Pleasingly, unmanned freight transport is developing as part of road transport. These lorries are now actively operating along the M-11 and the Central Ring Road. Next year, they will begin operating on the M-12 motorway. We are preparing the relevant legislation, and gradually, freight transport by unmanned lorries will become commonplace. Everything is moving in this direction, Mr President.

Vladimir Putin: Will the Volgograd bypass road be completed?

Andrei Nikitin: Yes, certainly, it will be done, without fail, absolutely. All our bypasses are to be completed this year on schedule.

Public transport carries 11 billion passengers, plus an additional three billion passengers on the metro, accounting for 70 percent of all passenger traffic. In this area, we are tasked with renewing the fleet as part of the national project. We are working on this systematically and carrying out all necessary work.

However, megacities also face several related objectives. One of them is reducing travel time. When discussing high-speed rail, for example, it is more appropriate to consider the journey from door to door rather than from station to station. Here, the crucial factor is how effectively urban transport integrates with rail and air travel, and how convenient it is for passengers. These issues are actively being addressed today in Moscow and St Petersburg.

Regarding key population centres, territorial connectivity is critically important, ensuring that people living in small towns can reach hospitals, regional capitals, or neighbouring municipalities. These are among the priorities we focus on.

Naturally, advanced technologies, including biometrics, are essential. Biometrics is already operational in five metro systems and will soon be introduced in two more. A person simply shows his or her face and passes through without any additional documents.

Another very important initiative is the digitalisation of benefits. A passenger buys a ticket using the passport, and a request is automatically sent to the Social Fund. If the passenger is eligible for benefits, they receive them without any additional paperwork. Today, this system is functioning for large families, students, and persons with disabilities, and we will continue developing this technology.

Driverless transport is also advancing. Trams in Moscow and St Petersburg already operate autonomously, as do the Lastochka trains. Gradually, this technology is becoming commonplace as well.

Regarding international transport corridors, we are seeing a significant increase in cargo turnover with friendly countries, including African nations. This is facilitated by the targets you set for expanding the capacity of border crossing points. Compared to 2020, throughput capacity has increased by 60 percent, and this year we will take another step forward.

Two important objectives are being addressed here. The first is the creation of smart checkpoints, where drivers upload all required documents in advance through a single window, proceed through an electronic queue, and inspection services receive their documents before the vehicle arrives. If no risks are identified, the vehicle will be cleared within ten minutes: in other words, it passes through as quickly as possible.

The second important initiative, for which you and President Lukashenko signed a decree within the Union State last year, is the introduction of electronic navigation seals. These apply to the transportation of hazardous, special, and sanctioned goods. The technology has proven highly effective, providing the necessary level of security, and beginning next year it will be expanded throughout the EAEU.

Vladimir Putin: With a single installation?

Andrei Nikitin: Yes. An electronic seal is attached, and it shows clearly where the vehicle is moving, which route it is taking, and its entire path is clear.

As I mentioned, transport education in Russia involves almost half a million students across 19 universities and 86 branches. Beyond traditional education, we are now training engineers for high-speed rail, as well as specialists in cutting-edge fields like autonomous navigation, quantum communications, and the operation of marine power plants.

And there is a growing international demand. Our colleagues from friendly countries are increasingly approaching us, eager to have their students learn Russian technologies, which they will, of course, then apply back home. We currently have 10,000 international students from 104 countries.

Vladimir Putin: They will be strengthening the legacy of a unified transport system, a foundation we inherited from the Soviet era.

Andrei Nikitin: Of course.

Looking ahead, we plan to create nine world-class research centres. It is worth noting – when I became Minister, I was fascinated to learn that the great Mendeleyev himself worked at the St Petersburg Railway University. The transport sector was once at the very forefront of scientific advancement, and that is a legacy we intend to revive. We are working with the President of the Academy of Sciences to establish a dedicated transport division – something that does not exist today. With your support, we can cultivate scientists of that same calibre once again.

Mr President, we see a great interest in cooperating with Russia. Following your instruction, we will be holding the International Transport and Logistics Forum in St Petersburg this April. The key discussions will, of course, focus on transport corridors and the critical need for unified or aligned transport legislations across our nations.

Our colleagues are already discussing the creation of a unified international digital transport code. Everyone is watching the rapid advance of unmanned vehicles and other technologies. We plan to invite as many international partners as possible to St Petersburg to discuss this essential work.

Vladimir Putin: And energy sources for transport are also a very important issue.

Andrei Nikitin: They most certainly are.

Mr President, as you rightly noted, our transportation complex, this unified transport system, is a wellspring of technological innovations, a powerful driver of Russia’s growth, and without doubt, a fundamental element of our nation’s backbone; the very framework that binds our country together. And I am confident that the professionals of our transport industry will continue to execute their duties with the same high standard of excellence they have always upheld.

Thank you once again for your kind holiday greetings.

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