Russian Education Minister Sergey Kravtsov made an important statement regarding the international appeal of Russia's education system. Kravtsov reported that a very large proportion of students who win awards in international Olympiads choose Russian universities for higher education.
Speaking at a cabinet meeting chaired by President Vladimir Putin, the minister said, "98 percent of Olympiad winners choose Russian universities and strengthen the potential of the country's science, education, and IT sectors." Kravtsov added that they provide continuous support to these successful students together with the "Talent and Success" foundation.
Kravtsov's remarks coincided with the start of the main period of the 2026 Unified State Exam (EGE). The minister stated that the exam process, which began on June 1, is proceeding smoothly and that all candidates are on equal terms. He noted that graduates will be able to retake an exam in a subject of their choice on July 8 and 9, and that previous results will be invalidated. According to Rosobrnadzor data, approximately 149,000 applications were submitted for retakes, with social studies being the most popular subject.