A Russian official has admitted that rural schools in Tatarstan are in worse condition than those in war-damaged, Russian-occupied eastern Ukraine.

Speaking to Business Online, a news outlet serving the Republic of Tatarstan, Evgeny Varakin, head of the Verkhneuslonsky district, stated that he “wanted to cry” upon inspecting schools in his district due to their severe deterioration.

Varakin noted that some village schools in Tatarstan were in worse condition than those in Lysychansk, a city in Ukraine’s Luhansk Oblast that has been under Russian occupation since July 2 2022. The city, heavily damaged by the war, has seen extensive destruction.

Previously Tatarstan’s deputy prime minister, Varakin was assigned in 2023 to oversee the reconstruction of several Russian-occupied Ukrainian cities, including Lysychansk. Under Russia’s occupation policy, various Russian regions have been tasked with rebuilding specific areas of Ukraine. Tatarstan was designated responsibility for the Severodonetsk-Lysychansk-Rubizhne region of Luhansk Oblast, known in Russia as the Lugansk People’s Republic. Since 2022, Tatarstan has allocated at least RUB1bn ($11.5mn) towards infrastructure restoration in these cities, financing the renovation of schools, kindergartens, hospitals and roads, as well as the installation of engineering networks and new equipment.

Meanwhile, Verkhneuslonsky district, Varakin’s current jurisdiction and home to approximately 15,000 people, faces severe infrastructure challenges. Varakin described the situation as critical, stating that only two of the district’s rural schools could be classified as “good.” He also highlighted overcrowding in the district’s main town, Verkhny Uslon, where existing schools lack the capacity to accommodate all students.

Beyond education, the district struggles with deteriorating infrastructure. Of its 700 kilometres of roads, only half are paved, and local authorities can afford to repair just two kilometres per year. Water supply issues are also severe, with Varakin stating that up to 80% of the district’s water towers are in disrepair.

The region’s economic disparities are further highlighted by the presence of Innopolis, a high-tech hub near Kazan often referred to as “Russia’s Silicon Valley.” While Innopolis attracts skilled professionals and investment, it has contributed to significant economic inequality, with wages outside the technology sector nearly 30% lower. This disparity has fuelled a brain drain, as many young people leave rural areas in search of better opportunities.