Nikitin Named Top Candidate for Deputy PM Role

RBC: Transport Minister Andrey Nikitin has become a candidate for the post of vice-premier.

Consensus

Andrey Nikitin is the main candidate for the position of deputy prime minister responsible for the transport sector.
Vitaly Saveliev, the current deputy prime minister, is expected to leave the government after the State Duma elections.
Saveliev is running as a candidate for the State Duma from United Russia.
Nikitin became Minister of Transport in July 2025.
Nikitin previously served as governor of Novgorod Oblast from 2017 to February 2025.
Nikitin succeeded Roman Starovoyt, who died by suicide after stepping down.
Nikitin's representative has declined to comment on the reports.
The reports are based on information from four sources in the shipping and logistics sectors.
The State Duma elections are scheduled for September 18–20 in Moscow Oblast and other regions.

Nikitin was appointed to the Ministry of Transport as deputy minister before becoming minister in July 2025. — riamo
President Vladimir Putin requested four individuals, including Nikitin, to stay after a strategic development meeting in mid-August for a private conversation. — vm
There was no separate position of deputy prime minister responsible for transport before 2024. — vesti
Nikitin served as deputy head of the Ministry of Transport for several months before becoming minister. — kommersant