Overdue wage payments in Russia reached 2.9 billion rubles at the end of April, according to data from Rosstat.
The figure rose by 750 million rubles, or 35.2%, in one month and by 94.3% compared with April 2025. It was the highest level since December 2019.
The statistics cover organizations that are not classified as small businesses.
Meduza, citing its own sources, reported that Russian state media were advised to “ignore as much as possible” the data showing the increase in wage arrears. The existence of such guidance has not been officially confirmed.
The Bell later found that some Russian media outlets published reports about the increase and subsequently deleted them.