Economics professor slams Volgograd repair fee hike as administrative abuse

Professor Igor Belskykh, a Doctor of Economic Sciences and author of the Telegram channel «Your Pocket & Market Trends», has expressed outrage at the sharp increase in the tariff for major repairs of apartment buildings in Volgograd and the Volgograd region, which turned out to be five times higher than the established inflation rate.

Contributions for major repairs in the Volgograd region have been increased incredibly from 2026.

«Has there been price-related administrative abuse?» Professor Belskykh wonders. «Moscow, strengthen control over the growth of regional tariffs. The increase in tariff prices is unbearable for all social groups, especially affecting public sector employees and low-income groups.»

According to the professor, the increase in major repair tariffs at the beginning of 2026 exceeds the official inflation rate for 2025 in the Volgograd region by almost five times.

«It raises the question: why aren»t the Federal Antimonopoly Service and other agencies controlling such tariff increases for public services in the region?« asks Igor Belskykh. »Under our laws, unfortunately, we cannot name the responsible persons who allowed such tariff growth. The justification for this increase needs to be publicly checked, and measures should be taken to reduce the new tariff to the inflation level based on 2025 results. Where are the calculations and transparency of such an increase? Everything is done quietly and on the sly. They«ve put millions of people, residents of the region, simply before a fait accompli.»

At the same time, as Professor Belskykh reminds, the dubious quality of major repairs and their consequences, as well as numerous complaints about the work performance, are constantly publicly discussed by residents and regional media.

«In economics, there is no such thing as a tariff increase of almost 500%, multiple times higher than inflation, without basis. It»s time to be outraged about this. We can no longer remain silent,« believes Professor Belskykh.

The professor says that a similar situation occurred in 2025 and will occur in 2027, and the outstanding tariff increase is enshrined in a decree of the Volgograd regional administration (No. 863-p dated December 29, 2024). This regulatory act sets the minimum amount of contributions for major repairs of apartment buildings in the region for 2025, 2026, and 2027.

«It will only get worse. A minimum of 13.66 rubles (approximately $0.14 at current rates) per square meter has been set. This is 2.73 rubles (about $0.03) or +24.98% higher than last year (10.93 rubles, or $0.11),» the economist calculates. «For example, for an 80-square-meter apartment, the payment is already over 1000 rubles (about $10 at current rates) per month. What are we paying for? As consumers and homeowners in this region, this price abuse simply outrages us!»

Meanwhile, in other major cities, major repair tariffs are significantly lower. According to information resources, in 2025, in Moscow, the minimum rate was 29.66 rubles (approximately $0.30 at current rates) per meter, in Kazan — 8.47 rubles (about $0.08). In St. Petersburg, the price increased from 13.21 to 14.26 rubles (roughly $0.13 to $0.14).

«Volgograd residents pay more than Kazan residents and are on par with St. Petersburg, where building wear is greater and the housing stock is older. And there, the average salary level is much higher. Major repairs and their cost should be subsidized by regional and local authorities,» writes Professor Belskykh. «Such an increase is clearly an inadequate tariff attitude towards one»s own population. Almost 500% above the official inflation rate — that«s the increase in major repair contributions in the Volgograd region in 2026. Inflation was set by federal Rosstat at 5.59%. And the tariff increase is almost 25%! Almost five times higher! People»s pockets suffer. The well-being of people in the Volgograd region is declining.«

Recall that the quality of major repairs of apartment buildings in Volgograd constantly causes dissatisfaction among residents and leads to investigations by supervisory and law enforcement agencies. In the summer, residents of apartment building No. 41 on Veselaya Balka Street were left without a roof, which was also removed during major repairs. A downpour flooded the apartments of townspeople, who were forced to place basins and collect water. Last year, residents of house No. 13 on Mira Street faced a similar problem, where the contractor dismantled the roof on the eve of summer torrential rains. And at the end of the year, the FAS (Federal Antimonopoly Service) added LLC «SO.YUZ,» registered in Moscow, to the register of unscrupulous suppliers. The company disrupted major repairs of 381 apartment buildings in Volgograd and the Volgograd region.