IT sector's backbone staff remains in Russia - minister

MOSCOW. May 17 (Interfax) - The main part of IT personnel remains in Russia, Minister of Digital Development Maksut Shadayev said.

"I see from major companies. Practically the entire backbone staff is here, colleagues are acquiring new specialists. Practically all major companies have a large number of openings," Shadayev said on Tuesday at the Znanie society's New Horizons educational marathon.

The benefits that have been presented will allow keeping IT workers in Russia, he said.

The Digital Development Ministry received analysis from communications service providers at the end of last week on the SIM cards of those who have left Russia and returned to their homeland since the start of the special operation in Ukraine, Shadayev said. "The figures are reassuring. Around 80% of SIM cards that left after February 24 have returned to the country. IT workers make up a significant portion of this audience," he said.