According to the latest census in 2021, there were 49,646 Nenets in the Russian Federation, most of them living in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, Nenets Autonomous Okrug and Taymyrsky Dolgano-Nenetsky District stretching along the coastline of the Arctic Ocean near the Arctic Circle between Kola and Taymyr peninsulas.

[3] Today, the Nenets people face numerous challenges from the state and oil and gas companies that threaten the environment and their way of life.

The names of two autonomous regions of Russia (Nenets, Yamal-Nenets) mention the Nenets as the titular nationality of the region; another such district (Taimyrsky (Dolgano-Nenetsky) Autonomous Okrug) was abolished in 2007 and transformed into the Taimyrsky Dolgano-Nenetsky District of the Krasnoyarsk Krai.

[5] Ethnologue says that in Siberia, most young people are still fluent in Nenets, whereas in European Russia, they tend to speak Russian.

They ended up between the Kanin and Taymyr peninsulas, around the Ob and Yenisey rivers, with only a few of them settling into small communities like Kolva.

Tundra wolves can cause considerable economic loss, as they prey on the reindeer herds which are the livelihood of some Nenets families.

[8] However, the introduction of snowmobiles in the 1990s allowed the Nenets of the Yamal Peninsula to decimate the local wolf population, as the wolves have nowhere to hide on the open tundra.

[4] During migrations, the Nenets placed sacred items like bear skins, religious figures, coins and more on a holy sleigh.

They were forced to settle in villages and their children were educated in state boarding schools, which resulted in erosion of their cultural identity.

In taiga villages occupations such as market gardening, fur farming, cattle breeding, trade, medicine, etc.

While in the rest of Russia, the collectivization policy lasted for a very long time, it was only invoked onto the Yamal area for a decade.

For example, herders would often mix up the herds so that inspectors would find it impossible to see the true ratio of private to collective deer.

[11] According to activist and researcher Maria Vyushkova, the oil and gas industry in the Nenets Autonomous Okrug "doesn't bring anything to the indigenous population.

Specifically, the nomadic lifestyle the Nenet people have been accustomed to for generations is in danger as the oil industries encroach on reindeer pasture and territory.

[14] Also, by reaching the coast with the migrations, the reindeer are able to find relief from insects such as mosquito and botfly by avoiding infestation periods.

However, the companies that enter the Yamal peninsula also prefer this rugged terrain to build their infrastructure upon, causing a direct overlap in land of interest.

Although not directly related to migration routes, another impact is the effect on Nenets peoples' sacred spots.

The Nenets people have a tradition of designating a sacred spot where they make a request of the spirits for a successful migration.

[14] In one case, a sacred spot of the Nenets people was fenced in during the industrial development, dissolving it of its traditional significance.

Lastly, an impact that is loosely related with the migration routes is accessibility to health care clinics by the Nenets people.

There exists a rural protest community called Voice of the Tundra that currently speaks on topics such as the rights of the Nenets people.

[21] As aforementioned, it is difficult to gather collectively and so this community relies on VKontakte, a Russian online service, to mobilize and communicate.

[21] Additionally, rather than being led by lawyers or journalists or scholars, the community has a young reindeer herder from the tundra as their leaders.

[21] The Voice of the Tundra focuses its attention on three main issues: a shortage of land for the reindeer due to oil and gas companies expanding use of the territories, the uncertainty surrounding the future of nomadic reindeer herding, and the lack of Indigenous leadership and organization.

[23] Specifically, a reindeer herder by the name of Eiko Serotetto is being heralded as the main activist generating the change.

[23] Serotetto posted a petition on social media that asked for attention to be brought to the Indigenous peoples and their reindeers.

This petition brought attention to the Russian officials who were not addressing the "real life of the tundra and Indigenous people".

In a research study conducted in the area, one villager reported that they were able to coexist with the industries through social agreements, voluntary giving, and compensation for damages.

[19] Some argue that this variance in support for the industrial companies from the Nenets people lies in factors such as active leadership from community leaders.

[19] This reasoning can be seen as falling similarly in line with what the Voice of the Tundra was fighting for, as it can be seen that proper Indigenous leadership and involvement can lead to higher satisfaction among the Nenets people.