Stalled construction leaves Moscow homebuyers in legal limbo

The residential construction sector, which accounted for 13% of Russia’s GDP in 2025, is showing clear signs of strain. State statistics reveal a 28% year-on-year drop in completed residential space during the first quarter. For buyers at the Samolet-led Ostafyevo project, the macroeconomic downturn translates into bare breeze-block walls, dangling wiring, and persistent damp. Elena Skripnichenko, one of many residents currently suing the developer, noted that workers at the site have complained of unpaid wages, despite company assurances that obligations are being met.

Samolet, a major player that reported a loss in 2025 due to soaring borrowing costs, maintains that it is working to expedite handovers by September 30. However, the company’s financial health remains precarious, with total debt exposure reaching 373 billion roubles. While the Central Bank of Russia downplays systemic risks, the reality on the ground is stark for families like that of Tatyana Lubentsova, who relocated from the volatile border city of Belgorod expecting a new home in early 2025. Over a year later, she remains without keys, joining a growing wave of litigants seeking recourse as the industry's rapid growth cycle abruptly reverses.