Up to 15,000 Russian companies close monthly as business conditions worsen

Between 12,000 and 15,000 Russian companies have been shut down each month due to economic reasons since the start of 2026, nearly triple the monthly average from previous years, according to a report by Kommersant. The figures, analyzed by Sberbank's Center for Macroeconomic Research, exclude organizations removed from the registry for inactivity and cover both voluntary shutdowns and formal liquidation proceedings.

New business registrations have been declining since 2024, and closures have surpassed new registrations for the first time in nine years. The To Be Precise project found that 47,500 companies closed through liquidation in the first half of 2026, suggesting a heavier tax burden on small businesses may be contributing to the trend, although the data does not specify the reason for each closure.

The simultaneous rise in liquidations and decline in new registrations indicates worsening conditions for small and midsize businesses. Federal budget shortfalls are projected to begin as early as the start of 2026 due to lower-than-expected oil and gas revenue, a risk acknowledged by the Russian government. Ukrainian intelligence reports that medium-sized and large businesses continue to struggle, with over half of Russian large companies ending 2025 with lower profits and cutting or freezing investment projects.

In February 2026, about 300 Russian companies were preparing to close, and for the first time, 74 Russian regions fell into severe financial distress on the same day. The Russian Finance Ministry acknowledged a widening budget deficit at an unprecedented pace, with more than 17,000 businesses posting losses in April 2026, and Russia officially recording a significant GDP drop for the first time in years.