Has Dmitry Kurdyumov's local rating dipped?

      "If previously no one was surprised that, pulling a mid‑level clerk out of obscurity — or, as we joke, a 'raccoon‑from‑under‑the‑gate' — Dmitry Alexandrovich could casually juggle and hand out ministerial portfolios, the current tendency to install his own people — ministerial types in some kind of 'quiet subordinate agencies' — gives pause even to those who have access to the fifth floor only by special summon," one official shares.

      Not hiding that the latest article on Newsler.ru stimulated rumors and gossip about a "reconstruction of the staffing table of the Ministry of Education": it reported the transfer of former minister Olga Ryseva to the position of head of the Department of the State Employment Service. At the same time, the post of "head of personnel," which Ruslan Bondarchuk had been listed as holding since July 8, 2024, was not considered vacant.

      And while Ryseva is likely leaving with a clear demotion — from a ministerial position to a managerial one — the question of Bondarchuk's career rise or fall remained open. That allowed employees from "other floors" (aside from the fifth — the government floor) to begin their own "investigation." Its result was a "highly probable hypothesis" that Ruslan Anatolyevich's latest castling is, to use "chess language," a big blunder that usually leads to defeat.

      "Leaving the Personnel Department to become the director of the Dymka Sports School is like 'trading your watch for underwear.' Although... Bondarchuk is known as a 'multi‑tasking professional': at one time he was minister of construction, not getting along with Churin, then deputy minister of health, then a personnel officer... But he is unlikely to sit long in the director's chair of the Sports School. There you either have to pull up the sports economy or raise champions, and he doesn't have many professional skills for either," the source said.

      By the way, regarding Bondarchuk's demotion, a government source sees "one plus": Ruslan Anatolyevich remains "under the wing" of Kurdyumov, sheltered by the department of Sergey Sulik — the current head of the Ministry of Sport.

      The same interlocutor explained which position might await Evgeny Shulmin, the likely predecessor of Bondarchuk, who is still listed today on Dymka's staff as director. Most likely Evgeny Alexandrovich will take the reins of KOGAU "Vyatka‑Start Center for Sports Training," which has been vacant for almost a month after Pavel Klestov's transfer to the post of head of the municipal Department for Youth Affairs, Physical Culture and Sport.

      Incidentally, the Kirov sports community has increasingly expressed dissatisfaction with the work and initiatives of "sports minister" Sergey Sulik, who, in their view, is "not fired up about sport" but about solving other, entirely non‑sporting problems and tasks:

      "Rumor has it that a few days ago the Kirov Speed Skating School 'Dynamo' allegedly received an order to send two people from the school's staff to the SVO. Today the entire workforce — and, to be honest, the families of potential recruits — is shaken, since the school mostly employs older men, if not retirees... which Sulik is fully aware of."

      The interlocutor noted that some regional government employees could also volunteer for the SVO. Especially since among them are those liable for military service — some with medical education and experience working in medical organizations.