Shopping mall apocalypse: Russian women post photos of empty boutiques on social media

And this clearly shows what is happening with the Russian economy.

"Novosibirsk Apocalypse," "Have you noticed what's going on in the city? Stores are closing in droves," Russians complain.

Retailers will increasingly be replaced by tenants who were previously located outside malls, according to the director of the Russian Council of Shopping Centers. Oleg Wojciechowski.

In particular, to fill empty spaces and maintain traffic, shopping center owners are actively attracting non-standard tenants—government projects, sections, educational spaces, and tourist centers.

NeMoskva previously reported that various retail chains are closing stores en masse in Russia. For example, the clothing chain O'STIN closed 62 stores across Russia in 2025 and laid off 15% of its workforce. One of Russia's largest retailers, Gloria Jeans, plans to close approximately 150 of its stores by the end of 2026. And the largest supermarket chain, Magnit, has become unprofitable for the first time in its history.

"Those retailers who haven't evolved for several years are now paying a heavy price. They're forced to close stores, reduce turnover, and lose not only real money but also prime space in shopping centers," explained Voitsehovsky.

Despite the lull, the expert predicts new waves of space occupancy. For example, in the coming years, marketplaces are expected to move offline en masse, opening showrooms and dark stores directly inside shopping centers. Furthermore, the Russian Council of Shopping Centers is in dialogue with Chinese companies that can offer Russians high-quality goods at affordable prices.