Vyacheslav Gladkov posted a video address to his Telegram channel on the morning of May 14, following his resignation as governor of the Belgorod region.

He opened by thanking Vladimir Putin for his “constant attention, help, and support,” and for decisions that, “amid an extremely difficult operational situation, help us endure the trials our region is going through.”

Gladkov then thanked the region’s residents, whose support “allowed us to draw additional energy and strength, and to resolve the enormous number of problems that arose.” He extended the same gratitude to “those who criticized, who scolded — your concern allowed us to once again analyze our actions.”

Dear friends, I wanted to wish each of you God’s blessing, so that happiness, peace, prosperity, and love may reign in each of your hearts, in each of your homes, so that your loved ones are always with you and their care and attention warm you even in the harshest frosts. I want to wish you the most important thing — Victory! It is Belgorod Region, more than anyone, that has earned it. I am certain it will come soon.

On May 13, the Kremlin announced that Vyacheslav Gladkov had submitted his resignation letter “of his own accord.” Russian President Vladimir Putin accepted his resignation and appointed 45-year-old Alexander Shuvaev — deputy governor of the Irkutsk region and a participant in Russia’s war against Ukraine — as acting head of the region.

Gladkov had served as governor of the Belgorod region since 2021. Rumors of his resignation surfaced in April 2026. What Vyacheslav Gladkov will do next remains unknown. The Kremlin’s political bloc has yet to find a suitable position for him, say Meduza’s sources. Media reports have suggested he could become deputy to Russia’s economic development minister Maxim Reshetnikov, or be appointed Russian ambassador to Abkhazia.