COVID-19 challenges and governance response in Russian cities. Insights from Rostov-on-Don

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted serious weaknesses in multilevel governance, especially in urban contexts under authoritarian regimes. This paper explores how federal, regional, and municipal government dynamics influenced pandemic governance and urban resilience in Rostov-on-Don, Russia. Using the oxygen shortage crisis of October 2020 as a point of departure, the study investigates how political priorities shaped public health outcomes, undermined public trust, and reconfigured urban demographic trends. The research draws on policy analysis, media discourse review, and demographic data. Key sources include federal and regional legal documents, local news sources, and statistical data. Media coverage and public responses were categorized by theme, and changes in demographic dynamics were analysed. Findings show that while pandemic management was formally delegated to regional authorities, decision-making closely followed federal directives. The municipal level was limited to operational roles. Policies focused on restriction and enforcement rather than adaptation or care. Public dissatisfaction manifested in protests, black markets for vaccine certificates and permits, and low compliance. Demographically, the pandemic reversed long-standing urban growth, increased mortality—especially among older adults—and altered migration patterns. The case of Rostov-on-Don reveals that urban resilience cannot be achieved where political loyalty overrides local responsiveness. The centralised governance model eroded public trust and exposed the principal-agent problem in the governance system. These findings highlight the importance of governance quality, institutional autonomy, and public trust in building resilient urban systems. • Explores COVID-19 pandemic governance and urban resilience in a Russian city • Urban governance was reduced to operational implementation during the pandemic • Pandemic governance prioritised regime resilience over urban resilience • Public mistrust manifested through low vaccination uptake, protests, and certificate fraud • The pandemic disrupted long-term demographic growth through mortality, low fertility, and migration shifts