On Sunday, August 16, 2026, a major personnel decision occurred at the Russian state development corporation VEB.RF: Andrey Klepach was dismissed from his position as Chief Economist. This event became resonant not so much due to the personnel change itself, but because of the reasons that triggered the dismissal. As it turned out, the resignation was a consequence of public statements made by the expert back in May of the current year, which were perceived by the leadership as inconsistent with the current agenda.

Reason for Resignation: Report at the Nikitsky Club

According to the Russian publication The Bell, cited by RBC-Ukraine, the dismissal of Klepach was initiated personally by the head of VEB.RF, Igor Shuvalov. According to sources, the decision was made "on a call from above" and is directly linked to the economist's speech in May 2026 at an event of the Nikitsky Club of the Moscow Exchange. In his report, Klepach criticized Russia's economic resilience in the context of a protracted conflict with the West.

The expert stated that, despite the economy's ability to survive, Russia is losing the technological and economic competition not only to the US and China but also to Ukraine. Klepach directly pointed out the illusory nature of expectations of a rapid collapse of the Western system and predicted Russia's defeat in a war of attrition. His words that "we will not win the competition" and that "everything will not collapse there" became a trigger for administrative pressure.

Andrey Klepach's Career: 12 Years as Chief Economist

Andrey Klepach is one of the key figures in Russian economic analysis. He held the position of Chief Economist at VEB.RF for 12 years. Before moving to the state corporation, he had significant experience working at the Ministry of Economic Development, where from 2004 he headed the department of macroeconomic forecasting. Between 2008 and 2014, Klepach held the post of Deputy Minister. After moving to VEB, he also performed the duties of Deputy Chairman of the Board, but in 2019 he left the Board, retaining his status as Chief Economist.

Contradictory Data

There is a certain discrepancy in the details concerning the immediate moment of dismissal and Klepach's status at that time. On the one hand, sources confirm that the dismissal took place specifically on August 16, 2026. On the other hand, some reports mention that Klepach had not been a member of the Board since 2019, which may indicate that his influence was limited, yet his status as Chief Economist was maintained. This creates a contradiction: if he was not on the Board, why did his dismissal require a "call from above" and become a resonant event? Perhaps his role as Chief Economist was more significant than formal membership in the Board.

Context: A Series of Dismissals in 2025–2026

Klepach's dismissal is not an isolated event. In September 2025, it became known about the resignation of Colonel General Alexander Lapin, who headed the "Central" military grouping. Lapin was dismissed from the army after a series of failures on the front, including setbacks near Kyiv and the subsequent transfer of troops to the east. This indicates a general trend towards a strict personnel purge in Russia's military and economic structures, where public admissions of failure or disagreement with the official line are followed by severe punishment.

Significance for the Economic Agenda

The dismissal of Klepach signals that control over public statements by experts, especially in the fields of economics and security, is tightening in Russia. In the context of a protracted conflict and growing economic difficulties, the authorities are trying to suppress any voices that could undermine confidence in the country's ability to withstand pressure. This also indicates that even within state structures such as VEB.RF, independent analysis and forecasting are becoming dangerous for one's career.