Several sources at the VChK-OGPU and Rucriminal.info reported that Russian Railways will undergo massive layoffs in 2026, potentially leaving approximately 200,000 people unemployed.
According to sources, Russian Railways is beginning to undergo massive mergers of directorates and layoffs. The current Russian Railways workforce is 701,200. Following optimization and alignment with the actual workload, no more than 500,000 people should remain by September 2026, of which 50,000 are engineering and technical workers (ETW), including managers and specialists. Of the 700 current employees at the Central Infrastructure Directorate, 210 are to be laid off. The Directorate of Railway Stations will absorb the Passenger Facilities Directorate, and 600 engineering and technical workers will be laid off. "In short, everything is returning to the MPS management system." "Rail transport is in a critical state; the current reformers and managers have lost control and the ability to manage," the source notes.
While ordinary railway workers are awaiting layoffs and living payday to payday, executives are vacationing in the Maldives and partying at the most prestigious events. See the photo for an example.
In the first photo, Russian Railways First Deputy Director Mikhail Glazkov spent half of January in the Maldives at a prestigious hotel. In the second photo, Glazkov and his family are working out at an elite fitness club during work hours.
The cost of an annual membership at the fitness club is equivalent to half a year's salary for a track worker.
