russia’s IT Industry Loses Personnel and Control

The russian information technology sector is experiencing a systemic crisis: over the past three years, more than 20,000 IT specialists have left the country. There is almost no return of personnel: only about 300 specialists return each year.

Previously, foreign IT personnel accounted for up to 20 % of staff growth in russian companies. In 2024, this figure fell to a critical 0.4 %. The outflow of skilled workers is leading to the degradation of the industry: companies are forced to replace experts with internal cadres, who often do not meet professional standards.

In parallel with the personnel crisis, repressive pressure is intensifying. The Moscow City Court has sentenced former Yandex programmer Sergei Irin to 15 years in prison for transferring $500 to the Ukrainian Foundation “Come Back Alive”, having accused him of treason. Such cases create an atmosphere of fear among the IT community.

Against the background of the sanctions-induced isolation, loss of access to Western technologies, and growing cyber threats, the russian IT industry has found itself in structural decline.